it is over a year ago that I had shingles and the itching all around my eye and forehead has never gone away. I was told a few times at the eye clinic, that it takes time, but has anyone else suffered with this for so long??!! I use antihistamine cream and eye drops, but I think I have this awful problem forever! Luckily it isn't all day long but it IS every singfle day and makes life fairly miserable a lot of the time!
Merry Juliana is the one who can give you the best info about this but I believe your case, though aggravating, is not totally abnormal. There seem to be so many different variations on how this disease affects its "victims." I had shingles on my hand and arm in November and December. Thankfully, I haven't had a lot of pain since that outbreak but I do have one spot on the palm of my hand and thumb that remains sensitive and occasionally get the sharp, stabbing pain that I had at the onset. I consider myself very fortunate since others have suffered much longer and with frequent outbreaks.
Jane,I'm devasted ,I have just got over a very painful bout of it ,along my right collarbone,it lasted six weeks ,I went away on holiday feeling fine,came back last Thursday to the familiar ache and as yet no rash,like you I am thinking,will it ever go away ?
It isn't shingles, it is the after effect from PHN which I got unluckily! I never expected the itching to continue forever,,and would like to hear from anyone else that has had this problem for over a year
Yes I agree, there could be worse things like loss of vision, but knowing that that doesn't make it any easier having a sore itching eye every day for over a year, when others seem to get over the whole thing in a few weeks, I do feel very sorry for anyone who gets shingles more than once as I know how painful it is!
Hi Jane. I still get itching on and off after 2 years, sorry about that but shingles and its after effects can go on for a long time. I read somewhere that itching is a form of nerve pain so that's most likely what you have, pain from the damaged nerves. Try asking your doc for some pain relief, cream or drops which might help. I had an operation recently and had to have heparin injections after to prevent blood clotting. One of them was exactly where my shingles started on upper right arm and I now have terrible pain in the region again! I'm just taking the pain meds I am prescribed but they seem to wear off pretty quickly especially when I use the arm a lot. Take care, Pollyanna UK.
Thanks,
I do have drops and gel for at night time, Nothing stops the itching, Sorry you have this too, do you ever have days when it is ok? I find keeping busy helps as then I don't notice it so much! Good luck to you too x
PS I don't get any pain
Dear Jane,
Sorry to hear about your itching issues. Have you tried prescription gabapentin (Neurotin)? I take it for nerve pain and post herpetic neuralgia. Vistaril might also help. I am a RN who has endured multiple shingles attacks. I also work on the neuroscience step down unit dealing with patients with neurological conditions. Shingles affects the nerves, and while it is a dermatological condition, it is also a neurological condition that can leave one with neuro symptoms such as pain and itching. Good luck to you.
Hi Jane,
I got shingles in November and have had itching and nerve pain for several months. Everyone is different in how their body reacts to the shingles virus.
Itching is considered pain by the medical community. So, what you are experiencing is a normal reaction for some people as the after effects of shingles.
It may go on for a long time but I have been told that it often lessens with time. There are ways you can help ease your symptoms😁Read through the posts on this thread for some suggestions. Trying to take your mind off your itching by focussing on something fun or relaxing can help.
Itching is pain as I said before. you should ask your doc if he/she can prescribe something for it. I don't get much pain now except last week after an injection as I previously said. X
I have asked loads of times and there is never any help, even at the eye clinic and they are supposed to be experts!
Jane, I have had it for 8 months now and i have went to several doctors including the Hosipital, Eye doctors, and even a doctor of infectious diseases. they had me on heavy pain pills there I couldn't get of the sofa. I stopped that after about 3 month. I've used creams and even Lyrica. The last 3 month there has been very little change if any. I had it on my forhead, above my eye but not in it, and my scalp. The big problem is I don't feel like doing anything. my next move is an acupuncture doctor. I doubt it will work but I don't know where else to go. Good luck with yours
Thank you. I have given up trying to find something to stop the itching around my eye and forehead, as it seems to be permanent, due to the damaged nerves! I have an appointment at the eye clinic soon, as they still check my sight etc, so far it has been ok, and the scar on the cornea is not in my line of vision which was a relief!! I wish you luck too!
I have been itching in the area I had shingles for almost a year. It's so aggravating. It comes and goes, so it's not constant. My niece had shingles several years ago and still feels pain and itching.
Thankfully (if there's really anything to be thankful about with shingles), I had it along my rib cage and not on my face. I can't imagine feeling this around my eye/face. It may be too strong for around the eye, but I relieve my itching with peppermint essential oil. A few drops with some coconut oil and I feel relief for up to 2 hours.
Thanks, my sister has just given me some pure organic coconut oil, and she didn''t know it helped itching, she just bought it because she knows I love the smell of it, so I am going to try it on my eyelid as I have read before that it helps, so hopefully......!!
I don't know that the coconut oil, by itself, will relieve the itching. But, with an essential oil like peppermint or lavender, your skin will absorb them better when they're mixed in with coconut oil.
I find relief from both pain and itching using organic aloe vera gel mixed with Cera Ve anti itch cream. Cera Ve is very good at relieving itching.
What you have to keep in mind is that the symptoms of shingles and how people react to them as well as the after effects of the disease are all completely different for each person. So, what relieves the pain and itching for one person may not for another. That is what is so frustrating about this illness. The same is true for PHN. For many, the pain goes away slowly after time, for others, it stays forever and still for some they have no nerve pain at all.
I agree that the nighttime is the absolute worst. I am busy during the day I notice it but it more manageable. I honestly get stressed thinking about night time knowing the pain that awaits. I don't get any sleep due to the incredible burn, itching , bugs digging their way out of my skin feeling . I had a huge huge rash that covered my entire abdominal (right side) and back area. I am at a loss of what to do and truly am at my breaking point at night time . I sit a night scrolling the internet looking for that miracle post on HELP with shingles. Best of luck and know I'm here fighting the misery.
Hi Jane and jenniejack,
Your posts reminded me once again that shingles and PHN are truly health problems that affect eveyone different. For instance, unlike you both, my PHN pain is better at night. I still have to sleep on only one side but my pain is hardly noticeable at night when I go to bed. However, I sometimes wake up with a panic attack because on certain days I may wake up in pain. Then, I immediately get stressed out. The stress triggers the pain to get worse and my panic becomes really bad. I truly believe that shingles and PHN directly influence anxiety and that anxiety makes pain much worse. There are many articles online that support the idea that nerve pain is closely influenced by our emotional states. That's why, as Charlie often mentions, working on our psychological health can help those of us who suffer from complications related to shingles and PHN. I know that I feel much better when I concentrate on methods that keep myself calm and mentally peaceful. It is very difficult not to get nervous when pain is constant, but finding ways like meditation to soothe us, often takes the edge off a bit. Sometimes, if a person worries about not being able to sleep and dreads going to bed, then they can't sleep. Our minds are complicated and react to stimuli we may not even be aware of and can contribute to our physcial pain.