Shingles without the rash

Infections
1

For about two weeks I was experiencing pain on my right side, around my rib area to under my breast bone. It was an odd pain, nothing like I've had before, it felt as though someone punched me really hard. I thought it was just a muscle strain from so much coughing as I had pneumonia, but the pain didn't go away when the cough did, the pain got worse, and it was constant and would not respond to over the counter pain meds. It got to the point I was crying from the pain. All I can describe it as if someone beat the s**t out of me and left me there, or a car ran over my side. I had no burning, no tingling, no rash. It is a scary pain.

Nonetheless I was still diagnosed with shingles, and given anti virals and pain meds. Within a week I felt a lot better, now the pain is mostly gone, thank God.

Shingles also makes you feel lightheaded, faint, weak, unwell in yourself, not right. Before I got the pain I had a few days of feeling really weak and not right and thought I was going to pass out. Funny that as I remember a day before I got Chicken Pox, years ago, I felt really off.

Terrible thing to get. Now fearing getting it again so will look into a vaccine.

Just wanted to post this in case there are any of you who are wondering if its possible to have shingles without the rash. Yes, it is. Not common, but possible. It is also possible for the band of pain to shift, rather than just stay in one place. In my case my pain started on my right side, then went to my left side, same area of my rib/breastbone.

Hope this helps some people - if this is you, go to your doctor, the anti virals really work fast and the pain meds make it bearable. Paracetamol is not enough for this. Neither is co-codamol. You need either a med that dulls the nerve endings, or an opiate

2

Hi Danielle,

I have been suffering with odd sharp stabbing and sometimes burning pain in my left side and back near kidneys.  I went to ER 3 times and they keep telling me its muscuslar.  I have been to my pain management doc and she ordered MRI and I am patiently waiting for results,  This pain was very odd and came on suddenly while I was sitting watching tv, no bending or stretching, just sitting and its a pain like I never felt before.  I have a history of low back pain and this is completely different animal if you know what I mean.  Doc said could be herniated disk which is rare in the thoracic spine but possible.  Taking gabapentin and percocet and doesn't do much.  I cannot sit without this pain stabbing me no matter what position.  Only relief is lying down on my stomach until it settles and then if I am lucky on the good side for a bit.  Its horrible and I hope I get diagnosed soon.  I am insisting on a shingles blood test even though I haven't got a rash.

3

Hi Danielle,

4 Years ago I felt feverish, weak, in pain. Cant remember if I had a band of pain near my Kidneys, but I was definatly unwell.

I was a big GYM nut, every day 2 classes sometimes, Dancing as well. 

All this stopped when these symptoms came up :-(

I had scans and heaps of Blood test but no one ever tested if I had Shingles over the 4 years.... until 2 weeks ago.

As far as I knew I never had Chicken Pox or Shingles... Doctor called me a 'Carrier', kids had the chicken pox's but I never had any signs of it, no rash.

My bloods came back recently with  varicella-zoster virus detected ..... now all made since, why I was so sick and why I had unexplained Neuralgia in my left side of my face.

I now have Postherpetic Neuralgia through my face which gives me great pain.

Most meds give you such side effects that half the time you dont know where you are or what you are doing.

Wish you all the best Danielle.... you are not alone in this.

4

I know what you mean.  I have tried so many meds for pain.  Everything makes me feel lightheaded.  I tried Cymbalta and I was a mess for 3 days, Nausea, abdominal pain, headache, ears ringing, no appetite, exhausted, no energy and short of breath I think do to the anxiety from the side effects.  How can they make these meds and expect you to take them if they make you sicker than when you started.

5

Thank you for this. I was told I had the shingles 20 months ago in my head. The whole of the left side of my head was like a burning furnace, go thought it was cluster headaches, the a consultant said I had shingles. I had no rash on my face or head, just unbearable burning pain in my head. I had this for 4 weeks before I saw a consultant I was then put on Gabapeptim and antitriplyn . I was told I now had post herpeptic nuralgia . I  had never heard of this before I lost my job, because I was off work soo long and between pain and the drugs there were days when you didn't know how you would get through . I don't know when this will go away, I am still on medication and have days when my head is sore, or my face feels tight and weird. I hope there is a complete recovery for me,as I hope for anyone else out there who suffers from this. I do find meditation and rest are the best, and I keep taking the tablets but t sometimes there are days when you have things to do . People can't see this and so you may look alright on the outside but the pain is always there.

6

Hi Danielle

I have just been diagnosed with shingles for the 3rd time...no rash so far. Felt off colour for a couple of weeks, felt stabbing pains in my breast, asked for a breast consultation and mammogram, all clear..pain then started in the left breast and shoulder. Saturday I was in pain and a lot of discomfort, woke Sunday morning after a very disturbed night and the pain started mid morning, It was extactly as you said, felt like been run over and kicked to heck and back and could not breathe properly.  Husband out, I should have gone with him but told him I was staying home. Son out, even neigbours out, so phoned a friend who had shingles 18 months ago, and though she lives nearly 20 miles away she offered to come and run me to A&E.  I declined because by this time I knew it was shingles, took a high dose painkiller and 1 hour later the pain stopped, my husband arrived home.

A visit to the Dr. Monday confirmed shingles and I have been taking the antivirals since.  I only found out in the surgery that I could have had an injection against shingles when I was 70.  Apparently the next one is age 79.... as I am 74  am going to ask about the injection as soon as clear.

I have neverbeen in so much pain in my life, cried severl times during Sunday and been a bit weepy since.  At the moment I am pain free and no rash but skin feels as if ants are crawling over me.

7

Hi, Danielle ~ from Canada ~ I have had shingles with the rash once and shingles without the rash three times.  I now recognize the difference between a joint pain and the onset of shingles.  I have to bear in mind the 4 day window for the valocyclovir medication but that requires an x-ray to rule out a regular joint injury.  After the pain is gone ~ Aleve and Tylenol ~ I always have a numb spot where the shingles rash would have occured.  Since I now have four numb spots on my body, I can confirm to myself that it was the shingles four times.  However, I do have aa real problem convincing any doctor that the shingles is lurking at the point of the pain at the time of the pain.  Many people know nothing of the numb spots and that they are caused by the nerve damage done by shingles.  There is, of course, no scarring as there is with the rash.  I am now 77 years old and may ask for the vaccine.  The doctor's office told me that I cannot have the vaccine within one year of a shingles attack but, since the doctor doesn't believe that I had the most recent attack, what can I do????  It has been 12 years since I had the shingles WITH the rash so I might go with that.  Any advice???  Susan

 

8

Hi hazel.your story sounds familiar here, now wondering if it's what I have, twelve weeks ago like you felt bit off colour, slight ear a he sore throat, then it went off couple of days then chest pains started, and dry cough and very tight chest, pains under arm and shoulders, under should blade also , been tested for embolism, asthma , infection, acid, they have decided it's acid, I know it's not, different pains, so breathless with pain too, but have no rash, breast been really swollen feeling and hot, feel very worn out with it,  now today my three grandsons whom I have a lot have all gone down with chickenpox x

9

Hi gwendapolly, I think your grandchildren caught the chickenpox from you so you definitely have shingles.  Get the doc to test for shingles...I got the antivirals and this cleared the pain but I did have ONE SPOT, all that pain for just one spot, Ithink myself lucky not to have had a rash,  but it makesme wonder where it is lying dormant just to try again!

10

Hi hazel , I think you could be right you know,I damaged a nerve five years ago lifting a cupboard and got shingles in the nerve ended up in hospital for nearly 6 weeks with it, the pain was worse than childbirth, I  had four children naturally so I know.  I was begging at one point for them to put me to sleep literally I wanted to die......I have suffered pain ever since in those two nerves, and this is the exact same place. I thought it had jus flared up again, doing too much as it does, but it have had such problems breathing with it, and flu like symptons initially too, yesterday was first day in twelve weeks I actually breathed easier, the same day as my three grandsons came out in spots, how weird is that, today not been too bad til this evening, bit tight chested again, boys getting spottier poor loves, feel awful that they may have caught it from me,   As I have had this for soo long do you think any point going back to doc, prob nothing they can give any way, certainly no help when I was in hospital five years ago other that I've morphine, opiates of all sorts, which made me feel ill with all side effects, it is a horrible thing, but I think you are right  thankyou x

11

Hi,

My name is Tara I'm 35 yrs old and I have been suffering for months now! I have been running a low grade fever on and of for about 3 or so months. I feel like crap most of the time. I have aches and pains and a sore throat off and on accompanied by a cough but what is worrying me the most is the spot on my back! Under my bra strap their is a spot that hurts so bad I cant even touch it! It is a pretty big are so it's hard for me to even sleep at night. I've never felt this type of pain before so it's hard to describe. It tingles all the time. Wearing a bra is NOT in my near future. My dr did blood work and it all came back good. All she said was it must be viral. I've just been dealing with the horrible pain the best way I know how with Tylenol and ibuprofen. Then I was at my psychiatrist ( please dont judge me lol) and I told her about it and her response was shingles! I thought she was crazy because there is no rash or bumps or blisters. PLEASE HELP!!! I can't keep living this way I don't know what else to do. My dr isn't listening.

12

Hi Danielle999

I want to thank you and everyone else who has shared their experience with Shingles. During the first week of August I developed severe pain in my upper back plus tenderness underneath my left arm. My Doctor diagnosed the problem as being muscle-related and prescribed co-meloxicam an anti-inflamatory. 

Within a short time the pain travelled across my chest and affected my right arm and shoulder.

One night I experienced such burning pain that my wife drove me to the ER. After an X-Ray the doctor diagnosed my problem as being non-rash shingles and prescribed a pain killer.

I have since visited my own doctor again who confirmed it. For the past eight weeks I have had virtually sleepless nights and good and bad days insofar as intensity of pain is concerned.

The Doctor has advised that it may take several months for this virus to go dormant. He also said that four months after it's gone, I can get the vaccine shot...

but even then as we all know there is no guarantee that it wont return.

By the way, I am 70 years old.

13

Hi, terry1944 ~ You have had your recent event for eight weeks = 56 days.  My last event lasted exactly 61 days ~ May 20 - to July 20 ~ and it left as quickly as it had started.  I would hope that your event will soon be over.

    My recent event began suddenly about mid-day on May 20 for no reason at all.  I could not put weight on my left hip and any effort to force it to function was excruciating.  It lasted like that, with no relief, for the 61 days.  Suddenly, on July 20, my left hip was functional and I could walk without any pain at all ~ not a twinge.  At the mid-point,June 28, I was virtually stranded at an airport, unable to move my left leg for 30 minutes.  My doctor, the people at the hospital emergency, the x-ray personnel, all of the medical people I questioned could not explain it ~ and none of them suggested shingles!

   The problem with non-rash shingles is to insist to the medical staff, from our many personal past experiences, that this is shingles and to request, quickly, the Valocyclovir to prevent the rash from developing ~ and to stop the pain at its onset.  None of us would willingly go through 61 days of debilitating pain only to have hind-sight tell us that it was shingles ~ again!

   I hope that you are soon better ~ my thoughts are with you, Terry, and all of the others who are still suffering.

14

Good morning Susan:

Thank you very much for your candieness; I really appreciate it. You and others have given me great insight into the illness... would that more doctors realize that Shingles can present itself in a rashless form.

By way of example, I have spoken to three retired doctors who live in our condominium and NONE of them have ever heard of (invisible) shingles; and as a result, each suggested that my illness must be something more serious. That prompted me to go to my doctor again to request a second opinion. Needless to say, the second diagnosis confirmed that I have Shingles. Please know Susan that I shall try to remain optimistic and hope that this bout of the virus will leave my body soon. 

 

15

Hi, I too have had only one spot in this bout of shingles.  I went to the Doc on Monday, saw another doctor than usual who didn't think I had shigles and requested a full blood test which I had yesterday.  Results not known until late next week.  In these results will be my T2 diabeties bloods.   I couldn't have the injection now on offer to 70 year olds, as I was out of the age range but not old enough for the 79 age group...go figure...we get ill and have to take what medicine we get.  Luckily I have no pain but dreadfully itchy skin but don't feel my usual 100% , get very tired and quite emotional.

16

Hi terry1944 ~ I was talking to friends today and there seems to be a consensus that the strain of chickenpox which swept through Europe in the early 1940s has resulted in quite a harvest of shingles among those of us who were there and had it (chickenpox) at that time as children.  My first event (2002 with blisters) lasted about 90 days and the neural pain is still with me, though considerably diminished.

     Doctors who do not have a personal history of shingles often are not very well educated in that area ~ and, let's face it, most of us are still struggling and learning about it through forums like this.  Doctors do not put a lot of credence into lay-forums, preferring to rely on what they were taught at med-school about shingles ~ which was not much ~ as very little is known or printed in their text-books about it.

     Terry ~ optimism is the back-bone of my life ~ and I am fortunate to be that way.  I always try to keep up with my occupations despite the shingles ~ hoping that I will ~ eventually ~ be rid of it "in a few days".

     I hope that you will also be rid of it in a few days.

17

Hi hazel14959 ~ If the results will not be known until late next week, you will not be able to use the anti-viral Valocyclovir to prevent the rash.  You have to start it within four days.  Doctors have to learn to recognize the initial symptoms and have the courage to trust the patient's self-knowledge.

     In Canada, we can have the vaccine whenever we want it ~ but we do have to pay $185.00 for it.  I cannot understand the English system of 70 or 79 ~ take it or miss it ~ which seems very cruel.  I wonder about your absence of pain ~ but then I am also still learning about the different varieties of symptom presentations.  Perhaps there is a "painless" variety ~ ?  Perhaps the itch will be found to be from somethng else, in which case the blood test will have been useful.

     I am now 77 but had my first event at 65 ~ I now have four events "to my credit" ~ and apparently I cannot get the vaccine until one year has passed since the last event.  I have an appointment with my Doctor to find out what would happen if I took the vaccine with less than one year since the last event.

    Will you keep us posted ~ please?

18

Hello Susan,   The problem was I had the pain, and only one spot, no other rash.  This was the same as the first bout of shingles 39 years ago, but that was in my head and I thought the spot was a bite from being in the garden, I treated it with my own cream and it turned septic so I had to go to see the doc...who took one look and diagnosed shingles. The second bout was around my middle with a rash.  This time, horrendous pain but as I said only one spot.   I have had antivirals which might has stopped the rash as I had these the next day following the pain.  Anyway we shall see what the test bring up and I will let you know on here...

fingers crossed nothing nasty will turn up.

 

19

Hi hazel14959 ~ you were one of the smart ones and went for the anit-viral right away.

     I always have blamed garden insects for the rash but I know now that they are very different ~ fool me once, etc ~ rolleyes ~ however, that misinterpretation has cost me two ugly bouts with shingles.

     Good luck on the tests ~

20

Hi I'm 34 years old and for the last two weeks I started to feel burning feeling in my back but now I'm feeling in my breast area as we'll. it's very uncomfortable to wear a bra or even lay down but I don't have a rash all I had was about 15 bites that look like bug bites.  Could this be shingles.