Evidently, you can have shingles without the rash. Wife starts having localized pain below right shoulder blade Thursday night. Still there Friday. Go to the doctor-NOOOO. Suffers increasing stabbing pain Saturday and Sunday. Finally agrees to go to the ER Monday morning at 4 AM. Doc prescribes Hydrocodone 5mg. Get to CVS at 6 AM. Pharmacist states they have been seeing many fall injury prescriptions and asks if we fell. Is somewhat surprised that no RX for antivirals given.
So here it is Tuesday. Can't see regular Doc. A Nurse Practitioner appointment for tomorrow.
Seems that antivirals may prevent long lasting nerve damage and shorten duration, but need to given as soon as possible, like within 3 to 5 days. I am on the 5 day bubble.
I envision tomorrow's appointment going like this. Why are we here ? It's too late for antivirals and A NPH can't prescribe pain medicine. Can't take NSAID's due to liver damage and Tramadol is not phasing the pain.
The Fentanyl in the hospital was great, but wore off by 8 AM

Zoster Sine Herpete
We need to learn to go to the Doc faster

Yes. I've had it without the rash. It was not diagnosed as such, so I still get periodic pain from it.

I had a severe reaction to the Shingrix vaccine that it's on my medical record that I'm allergic.

However, the reaction has never stopped. I get shingles at my hairline all the time now. They appear at random and are extremely painful.

^^^^^
Bummer. I’m thinking that there was a different shingles vaccine prior to Shingrix. Not as effective as Shingrix, but it might help you.

Wait, for the NSAIDs, that's usually contraindicated for kidney disease, while Tylenol is never to be mixed with liver issues.

Tylenol can be taken 2000 mg daily with liver issues.
Prescribed an antiviral and Lyrica. Xray reveals spinal compression fracture at t7

I have had silent shingles. My urologist diagnosed it and treated with Acyclovir. I remember ten years ago attending a medical education seminar where I was told one bout conferred life long immunity. WRONG you can get it numerous times.

quote:

Originally posted by oldbill123:
Xray reveals spinal compression fracture at t7

I'd investigate whether the pain is moreso related to this than to shingles.

MRI tomorrow. Had to cancel Iron scheduled for today. No one seems to be coordinating or checking even after marking it on MRI forms

Have moved on from silent shingles to T7 spine fracture (old) to now maybe radiculitis