Since you already have them it's too late for the vaccine that they will administer if you are 60 or over.
Dr's that specialize in chronic pain treat shingles very effectively. If you need a referral from your insurance to see a specialist I'd call your PC and ask for the referral. I see a pain specialist for disc problems and they work wonders and keep me moving and active when I'd otherwise be immobile. {{{{HUGS}}}} I feel your pain :cry:

Well I am going again Yes I ask about the shot , My ins will not pay for it to be 72 and to old to go through

I had shingles recently and my dr recommended the "vaccine"; it is not a true vaccine so some insurances don't cover it. It will not prevent some varieties of the illness. I shall get it; anything to avoid that pain. By the way, an anti-viral med must be taken within the first week to kill the virus...but the pain goes on.

I had shingles several years ago on my forhead and down the side of my face. I was put on medication right away and it did clear up. It came back a year later but not so serious as the first. However, 15 or so years later, It still affects my vision in that eye and I have to keep it checked. Not a fun thing to go through!

Yes, I can tell you some things about shingles. Big NOTE! If you are over 65, get a shingles vaccine, if you have had chicken pox but have not had shingles. I cannot stress this too strongly. Yes, the vaccine is expensive but well worth the price if you don't have to suffer from post-herpetic pain from nerve damage from shingles. You may still get the shingles, but the case is supposed to be less severe. A friend has suffered with residual pain from shingles (she's in her 40's) for 5 years and it is excruciating. She has lost 50 pounds from dealing with the pain. Nothing helps her and she has tried everything.


Most doctors will not give you a shingles vaccine if you have already had the shingles. So, before you get the shingles, get the vaccine. It is a timed dosage. The vaccine is frozen and is mixed with what I assume is a saline solution. It must be administered within 30 minutes of thawing and mixing or it is not effective. Good luck. Now, go get that shingles vaccine!

Yes, I can tell you some things about shingles. Big NOTE! If you are over 65, get a shingles vaccine, if you have had chicken pox but have not had shingles. I cannot stress this too strongly. Yes, the vaccine is expensive but well worth the price if you don't have to suffer from post-herpetic pain from nerve damage from shingles. You may still get the shingles, but the case is supposed to be less severe. A friend has suffered with residual pain from shingles (she's in her 40's) for 5 years and it is excruciating. She has lost 50 pounds from dealing with the pain. Nothing helps her and she has tried everything.


Most doctors will not give you a shingles vaccine if you have already had the shingles. So, before you get the shingles, get the vaccine. It is a timed dosage. The vaccine is frozen and is mixed with what I assume is a saline solution. It must be administered within 30 minutes of thawing and mixing or it is not effective. Good luck. Now, go get that shingles vaccine!

I had shingles several yrs ago and now have light flair ups when I get to stressed, Thank god the flair ups are short termned and a lot less painful.
I do not remember the name of meds I was on but remember they were made for the treatment of aids, were very new and cost $50. a pill but with my insurance I got them for $10.apiece seems like I had to take 15 pills or there abouts. I was already on pain meds for other problems but the pain was horrible. I remember I was with my sister in her RV and she asked what she could do I told her she could go somewhere because rvery time she walked across the floor it made me hurt worse.

The meds are retrovirals, like acyclovir. Shingles (chicken pox) is a herpes virus. Here are some websites with treatments: http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-a...tment-overview and http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/shi...nts-and-drugs.

It is painful. My late FIL got it shortly after we were married, before the retrovirals came out and he was in a lot of pain. My dad developed it later after they came out and I think he had an easier time because he took them.

Oh! I am so very sorry ! yes, painful.. you have a lot of people posting.. just wanted to stop by and say.

Honey, I am so sorry for your painful experience.

Ell

Stay in contact with your Dr., get referred to a pain clinic, bug anyone who can help you get relief. All the posts are right. It is a painful experience and re-occurances are possible. I had mine on both shoulders and they itch and re appear on occasion.

Sorry for your pain and problems. But don't give up, remember the squeeky wheel gets the oil. Keep at it and something will help.