Is it shingles, and how do you know?

Infections
1

New or kind of new to the shingles "party."  Actually since last year have been having outbreaks, and thought it was hives.  Now I'm realizing it is really shingles now, and maybe before hives?  Have had eczema off and on since 1 year old.  So, not new to skin issues!

Question:  is shooting pain a hallmark symptom of shingles.  Although I believe have a rather mild case, there have been times that I get very sharp shooting pains in my forearms where I do have an intensely red rash.  So bad that I can't hold a book or phone.  Have to wait for them to subside. 

Is shingles easy to diagnose, and what exactly distinguishes hives from shingles.  If I do a google image search on both, they look virtually identical.  Is it the amount of pain or what?  Am confused, but always knew I would wind up with shingles.  Have actually had chickenpox TWICE.  Once as a kid (with mumps at same time), and then the horror of chickenpox as an adult.

Any responses are greatly appreciated.

2

Hi Suzinne,

Shingles rash is confined to "one side" of the body, they can break out on the face, arms, shoulders, back, chest, abdomen, legs, etc., but will generally be on the left or right side. Sharp, stabbing pain is a classic symptom of shingles.

I was diagnosed with shingles Jan 30, 2016...I had rash on my left side: chest, upper arm and shoulder and back. Mine started with severe low back pain about two weeks before the rash appeared. The night before I discovered rash on my chest the next morning, I had excruciating left arm and chest pain,

much like a heart attack. I went to Urgent Care the day I discovered the rash and was diagnosed...antiviral acyclovir was prescribed along with gabapentin, prednisone and naproxen. The pain was so bad I later called my primary and was prescribed Tramadol. Also, I used a topical pain reliever. Pain subsided after about 2 months, but

would return sporadically ... I started taking L-Lusine 500mg daily and have been free of pain.

However, I still suffer with weakness...extreme fatigue and brain fog ...episodic flu symptoms,

all of which are considered "post shingles"...I am just so grateful I am pain free! I understand that the post shingles exhaustion and malaise can last for months or a year, because the Herpes-Zoster virus (viremia) is circulating in my body.

The Herpes-Zoster virus that causes chicken pox lies dormant at the base if the spine and is awakened when the immune system is compromised by stress, disease, aging, etc.

Hope this is helpful and not TMI.

3

Dear Suzinne,

You certainly have your share of dermatological issues. Hives are great big wheals that are unbearably itchy on both sides of your body. It is an allergic reaction. As you suffer from eczema, you are much more prone to Hives.

Herpes Zoster-Shingles are vesicles-blisters on a red base dermatome on one side of your body. Usually, Herpes Zoster-Shingles is preceded by symptoms such as headache, joint and muscle aches, fever, chills, sweating, malaise, fatigue, etc. The pain of Herpes Zoster-Shingles is lancinating, electric, severe, constant, burning, in which if a breeze goes by the pain is even worse.

Skin rashes and diseases are sometimes confusing to diagnose.

May I ask your age?

Do you have any other medical diseases or conditions?

You say you have a shooting pain. Does it start at your neck and travel down your arm? Do you have numbness and or tingling in the arm? Do you have weakness in the hand?, the arm?

I am a nurse practitioner in the States. I have had Herpes Zoster in my right ear every three to five weeks for the last 20 years and my right eye twice.

Best Wishes

Merry Juliana

4

Thank you Joyce, and no NOT TMI on your part!  Your information is certainly helpful, but am still a bit confused.  Think I may have more than one condition at the same time?  Just went to the doctor for another issue, not really into rushing back.  Am not in extreme pain or anything, and just have the shooting pains in my forearms from time to time.

Glad you have recovered, and hope not further outbreaks in your future.  However, know too well that once you have this skin conditions, sooner or later they do return.  : (

5

Thank you Mary.  Am 59 but probably closer to 60 (yuck).  Know I am in the age range.  Shooting pain in forearms but only time to time.  Numbness too, but that could be linked to poor circulation which I definitely have - think I have vasculitis.  Get smattering of red dots all over legs and arms - bad circulation in my family history.  But have huge patch of tightly packed very bright RED on one leg, and am pretty convince that it is shingles because it doesn't look like anything I've ever had before. 

But yeah, I'm a MESS.  And short sleeve season too.  Arms look LOUSY!

6

Suzinne

Perhaps the shooting pain in arms is caused by neck problems ie disc disease and bone spurs in the spine. As it is in both forearms and comes and goes and is shooting pain, it sounds as if it originates in the neck.

Will follow up

Merry Juliana

7

Suzinne,

Glad you heard from Merry Juliana, a nurse practitioner who has faced many challenges as a result of the Herpes-Zoster Shingles disease. She is very knowledgable and helpful. Her positive attitude is an inspiration.

I hope you get a firm diagnosis and the necessary treatment to give you relief.

Peace and blessings

8

Hi joyce01872!

Can you describe what you mean by 'episodic flu symptoms' please? 

For me it has been a month and while over all I've started to get a lot better, I find that random days I get mild flu like symptoms in the mornings such as headache, a little achey (mainly on the side of the shingles funny enough) and even some lymph node enlargement (though very minor). This generally gives me a very mild fever.

The brain fog is terrible!!!

9

Suzinne,

This does not sound like shingles. The shooting pain down your arms sounds like cervical disc disease. Red dots on arms and legs need to be evaluated by a dermatologist physician, but this is not shingles.

Merry Juliana

10

Hi Romen,

Since my worse time with unbearable pain, I've had bouts for 3 or 4 days, maybe a week of classic flu symptoms...muscle aches, severe low back ache (I had low backache several weeks before I broke out with rash) headache, stuffy or runny nose, chills, fever, the whole ball of wax, loss of appetite for first few days. Brain fog almost every day!

How long were you sick? Hope you're feeling better.

Peace and blessings,

Joyce

11

For me it started on the 14th of May (when the rash appeared). It wasn't too bad. Most of these symptoms I described started about 1-2 weeks after. I get mild flu-like symptoms for a 1/2 a day or so every so often since it has all happened.

12

Romen, have you seen a doctor for a diagnosis and medicine? If it's shingles it's important to take an antiviral much better within 72 hrs of breakout.

Sounds like it's a mild case if it's shingles.

Joyce

13

Yes, antiviruls were taken just over 24 hours after rash appeared, well within the time frame.

I was interested to see what post-shingles symptoms you have experienced and for how long after. I'm almost to week 4 how.

14

I am about 4.5 months out and have good days and not so good days...feeling exhausted much of the time, general malaise and brain fog. When I try to do to much I'll have flu symptoms muscle aches, headaches, stuffy or runny nose and it usually starts with chills and flushes. I can sleep 10 to 12 hrs easily. Sometimes loss of appetite.

Hope this helps.

Joyce

15

Hi Suzinne

I had the same symptoms as you described for a couple of days before the rash,blisters and swelling appeared.  I also felt really tired.  the shooting pain

down my right arm and into my fingers started first and then fatique, then the rash.  I thought it was an infection. I went to the doctor and he knew by looking at it that it was shingles,  he swabbed the area for testing as well.  I also had  burning and itching, the pain is the worst.  my skin is sensitive to touch, even toast from a toaster feels like put my finger in fire. 

whats different between shingles and hives is that shingles has small clusters of blisters localized in on the different parts of the body, in my case the arm and hand. my doctor told me it travels on the nerve pathways which is why there is pinching and burning pain, since its affecting the nerves.  Hives are different in that the blisters are bigger and less localized in one area.  I had hives from an allergic reaction, so there was a huge difference,  shingles is painful, but hives just itch.  you can be tested for shingles, its just a simple swab.  my doc told me to use bendryl or any over the counter allergy pill for hives and itching.  I also use apple cider vinegar to dry out the blisters.  so far its worked well for me.  my arm and hand still ache and its difficult to hold on to things, but it has been getting better each day.  hope this helps.