Good luck… I’ve seen people have permanent nerve damage from this; doesn’t always “go away”. I pray for a fast and full recovery.


I also have a personal belief the gabapentin is not a good drug for many; being heavily used over opioids for “pain” and does not provide anywhere near the same relief. It appears to work for some people who have posted in this thread. My experience is very different for post-op spinal cord shit.

Lastly- Many people struggle to ever getting off of gabapentin. Ymmv.

See needs to see a pain management specialist ASAP.

The pain from shingles can last beyond the visible effects. One friend who developed them in 2002 has been on pain meds since, and even that barely gives relief any more. He went from being fit to a stooped old man in a matter of 3 years.

quote:

I also have a personal belief the gabapentin is not a good drug for many; being heavily used over opioids for “pain” and does not provide anywhere near the same relief. It appears to work for some people who have posted in this thread. My experience is very different for post-op spinal cord shit.

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The drug is being widely misused. Breathing difficulties are common. Reclassification is on the way.

She has an appointment with her primary care doctor, who is an idiot, tomorrow so we will see what she says. I wish she would change doctors. She is in pure misery and I feel bad for her.

I feel so bad as she just can’t “be sick.” She is getting her doctorate degree and you have to work on that hard daily and she is also a Chancellor of a university so she has lots of responsibility.

Tell the doctor you want a referral to a pain managment specialist ASAP. It is their job to refer if indicated.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
Tell the doctor you want a referral to a pain managment specialist ASAP. It is their job to refer if indicated.

I told her exactly that. She said she will go to pain management if it lasts another week. She is way stronger than me. I would have already gone to pain management.

Pain management often has a waiting list, tell her to consider that. Good luck

Today she was given Lyrica and narcotic pain medication so we will see how that does. Next step will be pain management if it doesn’t get better. I also have her taking zinc, vitamin C and D as suggested in that video. Only knew to ask for Lyrica because it was suggested here. Thanks!!

You REALLY should check back with your primary care doc and ask about getting Acylcovir. Although it generally works best when started within 72 hours of the onset of pain there are studies that show that it will reduce the neuropathic pain and possibly the length of time when taken later. It can't really hurt to try.

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Too late for antivirals. Your wife is working on a PhD so she intelligent. Have her read the following article which is meta analysis of nerve blocks for shingles.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5256258/

My poor wife is now in week 3 of hell and has also now broken out in hives. Today she had her appointment at the pain management clinic. They gave her Belbuca, which is supposed to be 50 times stronger than morphine. They also gave her a nerve pain medication that is supposed to be a step up from Lyrica. She is scheduled for a spinal injection on Friday so hopefully all of this helps as she is at her Wits end.

Sorry to hear. Get a new PCP when she recovers. This is the best solution:

Paravertebral block with local and steroid.

BTW not a fun of the opiate, Belbuca. HIGHLY ADDICTIVE.

Damn, man. I'm sorry. I know how awful shingles is so I can't imagine having to endure that for three weeks. I'm hoping you can share some good news soon.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
Sorry to hear. Get a new PCP when she recovers. This is the best solution:

Paravertebral block with local and steroid.

BTW not a fun of the opiate, Belbuca. HIGHLY ADDICTIVE.

My wife is like my mom and HATES to take any prescription medication, but will make an exception for something like this. I don’t know how many pills they gave her, but it wasn’t many so I am sure that was to ensure no addiction. I did read this drug is highly addictive, but my wife hates medication so I am not too worried about that. I just want her and so does she, to not suffer.

quote:

Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:
Damn, man. I'm sorry. I know how awful shingles is so I can't imagine having to endure that for three weeks. I'm hoping you can share some good news soon.

Thanks man. I have dealt with nerve pain for my back and had surgery. My wife has a MUCH HIGHER pain tolerance than me. Seeing her go though this for this long is horrible. I hope it ends soon.

Does she plan on getting the shingles vaccine when she recovers?

quote:

Originally posted by StorminNormin:

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
Sorry to hear. Get a new PCP when she recovers. This is the best solution:

Paravertebral block with local and steroid.

BTW not a fun of the opiate, Belbuca. HIGHLY ADDICTIVE.

My wife is like my mom and HATES to take any prescription medication, but will make an exception for something like this. I don’t know how many pills they gave her, but it wasn’t many so I am sure that was to ensure no addiction. I did read this drug is highly addictive, but my wife hates medication so I am not too worried about that. I just want her and so does she, to not suffer.

Not everyone has the potential to be addicted. In fact, the large majority of people do not have such predilections. For a minority of people there is a chemical metabolic reaction to certain substances that cause huge releases of dopamine and other neurotransmitters which confuses the hell out of the addict re: what to do.

The major red flag for any person (and any substance) with regards to addiction is this: Does it trigger euphoria i.e. your pleasure reward system in your brain artificially? If so you are at risk. Same for alcohol.


Not everyone experiences euphoria from a quart of scotch. Not everybody experiences euphoria from opioids. If you do… You’re at risk.

quote:

Not everyone has the potential to be addicted. In fact, the large majority of people do not have such predilections. For a minority of people there is a chemical metabolic reaction to certain substances that cause huge releases of dopamine and other neurotransmitters which confuses the hell out of the addict re: what to do.

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Not to be too contrary but you sound like the Purdue Pharma literature. Addiction is psychological and physiological. It is dangerous when there are other alternatives. IF it is not such an issue why are there so many opoid addicts in this country? I don't think anyone can accurately depict who is going to be addicted and who is not. Why take the chance when you don't have to??

Data says differently; so does experience.

Well last night was my wife’s first night taking Belbuca and it did nothing. As far as feeling euphoria or anything, I kept asking her after she took it if she felt it or relief and she said she felt nothing. She said last night was actually the worst night of pain and did not sleep at all. I am going to go to the pain management appointment with her tomorrow to speak with the doctors to see exactly what type of injection are they giving her. Is it only steroids or is it a Paravertebral block with steroids. This is the worst thing ever watch my wife suffer like this for so long!