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SHINGLES... PAIN.. HELP?

 
Anonymous Coward
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04/11/2010 06:58 AM
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SHINGLES... PAIN.. HELP?
I JUST FOUND OUT I HAVE SHINGLES. hiding had chicken pox as a child but this sucks big time.. anyone knoe of any pain relief from home i can use? like rubbing alchol, or peroxide, etc.. in terriable pain and i really hate this..

Doc gave me an anti-viral and pain pills but they no help...
Anonymous Coward
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04/11/2010 06:59 AM
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Re: SHINGLES... PAIN.. HELP?
Ask your Dr.
Anonymous Coward (OP)
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04/11/2010 07:01 AM
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did..

he said have to let it run it's course...
Anonymous Coward
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04/11/2010 07:04 AM
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cream with zinc in it usually helps me. it shortens the duration and if there is pain meds in the cream might help....diaper rash cream for instance. also, swimming relieves the pain for about an hour. good luck, i hope you feel better.
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Re: SHINGLES... PAIN.. HELP?
Try
[link to www.earthclinic.com]
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Shingles
Previous Chapter Scurvy
Next Chapter Smog Exposure


Chickenpox Revisited

Childhood chickenpox is usually no big deal. A rash of itchy blisters, a touch of fever, a couple of days in bed and a few bowls of ice cream, and you're better. You might not even remember having had it.

But the virus that causes chickenpox remains in your body in nerves at the base of your spine, and it may reactivate years later as a searing case of shingles, or herpes zoster, its medical name.

When the virus flares, it moves out along the pathway of whatever nerve is involved, usually on the trunk, neck or face. The nerve becomes inflamed and extremely sensitive to touch. The area where the nerve reaches the skin burns and stings, then erupts in a splay of painful blisters that may last for up to a week or longer.

Shingles isn't something that you can just shrug off. And you shouldn't ignore it, even if you could. Doctors consider it a "pain emergency" and can offer some relief. Some studies also suggest that post-herpetic neuralgia, the lingering pain that sometimes follows an attack of shingles, is less likely to occur if you are treated within 72 hours of the onset of blisters with high doses of drugs that stop the virus from multiplying.

People with infections such as HIV and those taking chemotherapy drugs for cancer or immunity-suppressing drugs to protect organ transplants are at highest risk for a shingles episode. And your risk goes up simply as you get older.

"Most doctors use drugs to treat shingles, and a few drugs now in the pipeline may provide more help than ever," says Stephen Tyring, M.D., Ph.D., professor of dermatology, of microbiology and immunology, and of internal medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.

Still, some doctors add nutritional therapy to their treatments, hoping to reduce inflammation, protect nerves and restore strong immunity, says Richard Huemer, M.D., a doctor in private practice in Vancouver, Washington, with a special interest in nutrition. Here's what they recommend.

Vitamin B12 May Aid Recovering Nerves

It's considered an old-fashioned remedy, and it apparently doesn't work for everyone. But some doctors give their patients with shingles injections of vitamin B12.

"It's true that this treatment has been around for a while, and it's one of the things we do where we can be pretty sure that we are going to get beneficial results," Dr. Huemer says. "Usually, it helps relieve the pain, probably more than anything else we offer, and it seems to shorten the course of the illness."

A study by Indian researchers reported that 21 people with shingles showed "dramatic response," as judged by relief of pain and the speed with which blisters disappeared, starting the second or third day of treatment with vitamin B12 injections. What's more, none developed the lingering pain of post-herpetic neuralgia.

Vitamin B12 is known to play an important role in nerve function, Dr. Huemer says. "It's needed by nerves to maintain the protective myelin sheath, a thick layer of fatty membranes that wraps around nerves and insulates them," he explains.

Injections of vitamin B12 are absorbed more efficiently by the body than supplements. If you're interested in B12 injections, you'll need to enlist the aid of your doctor. Doses vary. Dr. Huemer gives up to 2,000 micrograms once or twice a week until symptoms improve, then tapers off the dose. Other doctors may give 500 micrograms daily for six days, then weekly for six weeks.

It's impossible to get this large amount of vitamin B12 from foods. Supplements can be helpful at 1,000 to 2,000 micrograms a day, according to Dr. Huemer. Absorption from supplements isn't as beneficial as injections, he explains. This amount of B12 is extremely high (the Daily Value is only 6 micrograms) and should be taken only under a doctor's supervision.

Along with vitamin B12, some doctors give injections of folic acid and the rest of the B-complex: thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6 and the like. "Many of these vitamins work together, and restoring all of them helps people get better faster," says Robert Cathcart, M.D., a doctor in private practice in Los Altos, California.

Vitamin C May Dry Up Blisters

It's not exactly what you would call recent research. But two studies, one from 1949 and another from 1950, suggest that people having shingles outbreaks get substantial relief from intravenous doses of large amounts of vitamin C.

In one of the studies, by researchers in North Carolina, seven of eight people with shingles reported relief from pain within two hours of the first dose, drying of blisters within one day and complete clearing in three days. In the other study, French researchers reported that they were able to cure all 327 people with shingles with three days of intravenous vitamin C.

Vitamin C may help bolster immunity in several different ways, explains Raxit Jariwalla, Ph.D., head of the virology and immunodeficiency programs at the Linus Pauling Institute of Science and Medicine in Palo Alto, California. Additionally, studies show that in large doses, vitamin C can inhibit replication of certain types of viruses, including those in the herpes family, Dr. Jariwalla says. It can also impair the ability of certain viruses to cause infection, he adds.

How vitamin C exerts its antiviral action isn't known, Dr. Jariwalla says. "It's probably by a multi-targeted effect rather than a single effect," he says.

By virtue of its antioxidant ability, vitamin C can also neutralize inflammation-causing biochemicals that are produced by immune cells as they do battle, Dr. Jariwalla says. That talent may help spare nearby cells that would otherwise be damaged by the battle between immune cells and viruses.

Many of the doctors who prescribe vitamin C for viral infections use it both intravenously, as neutralized sodium ascorbate, and in the largest oral dose that can be tolerated without causing diarrhea, Dr. Cathcart says. "We literally flood the body with vitamin C," he says. This large amount helps keep both blood levels and levels inside cells high enough to dampen inflammation, he explains. He usually gives daily intravenous doses for three to five days, by which time the blisters are gone. "I've never had a case that goes on to post-herpetic neuralgia or neuritis," he says. "This handles it very nicely."

Large amounts of vitamin C can cause diarrhea. For this reason, Dr. Cathcart explains, a doctor should determine how much vitamin C can be tolerated without diarrhea before a high dose is prescribed. In addition, notes Dr. Jariwalla, the amount of vitamin C that a person can tolerate before a laxative effect is experienced increases with the severity of illness or infection. If you'd like to try this therapy for shingles, you should discuss it with your doctor.

While it's impossible to get a high-enough dosage of vitamin C from foods, many doctors suggest that you'd still do well to include citrus fruits in your daily diet. That's because the white rinds and membranes of citrus fruits contain bioflavonoids, chemical compounds related to vitamin C that are also potential immunity boosters and inflammation fighters.

Food Factors

The shingles virus, herpes zoster, responds to the same dietary changes used for herpes simplex, the virus that causes cold sores and genital herpes. Here are the details.

Pay attention to amino acids. Research indicates that large doses of lysine, an essential amino acid, inhibit replication of the virus responsible for shingles.

"I recommend 2,000 to 3,000 milligrams of lysine a day during a shingles outbreak, more in stubborn cases," says Robert Cathcart, M.D., a doctor in private practice in Los Altos, California. Although lysine is commonly found in foods such as beef, pork, eggs and tofu, it may be necessary to take a supplement in order to get this high amount. The amino acid appears to have no side effects, since it's taken in high doses for only a short period of time, Dr. Cathcart adds. Lysine supplements are available in health food stores.

Ax arginine-rich foods. These include

Prescriptions for Healing

The main treatment for shingles consists of drug therapy. There are, however, a few nutrients that some doctors recommend.

Nutrient Daily Amount

Vitamin B12 1,000-2,000 micrograms

Vitamin C Largest dose tolerated without diarrhea, as prescribed by your doctor

Vitamin E 400-600 international units

MEDICAL ALERT: If you have shingles, you should be under a doctor's care.

The amount of vitamin B12 recommended here is many times the Daily Value and should be taken only under medical supervision. Depending on the severity of your condition, your doctor may choose to administer B12 by injection.

Before prescribing a high dose of vitamin C, your doctor should determine how much of this nutrient you can tolerate. Some people experience diarrhea with amounts of more than 1,200 milligrams daily. For this reason, it's important that you discuss this therapy with your doctor.

If you are taking anticoagulant drugs, you should not take vitamin E supplements.

Vitamin E May Ease Long-Irritated Nerves

One of the worst potential consequences of a shingles attack is pain that just won't quit, caused by chronic nerve inflammation. Although it hasn't been studied recently, several older research reports suggest that high doses of vitamin E can help resolve this persistent pain.

One report, published in 1973 by Los Angeles dermatologists Samuel Ayres, M.D., and Richard Mihan, M.D., found "highly gratifying results" with vitamin E used orally and topically. Of 13 people treated, 9 experienced complete or almost complete relief from pain, 2 were moderately improved, and 2 were slightly improved. Two of those who experienced complete or almost complete relief from pain had had post-shingles pain the longest: one for 13 years, the other for 19 years.

Vitamin E is incorporated into the fatty membranes of all cells, including nerve cells, which are protected by the myelin sheath, the thick wrapping of fatty membranes mentioned earlier, explains Dr. Huemer. There, vitamin E helps shield cells from the damage that occurs during a viral attack. Vitamin E can neutralize harmful biochemicals that are produced by immune cells as they ward off viruses. It may help stop the damage that can lead to lingering inflammation, Dr. Huemer says.

Dr. Ayres and Dr. Mihan used high doses of vitamin E in their study: 1,200 to 1,600 international units daily. Dr. Huemer simply recommends 400 international units a day. Consider medical supervision for doses of more than 600 international units daily.

Order the Complete Package

Vitamin E, along with other nutrients, stimulates immunity in other ways that may be helpful to people with shingles, especially those who seem to have weakened immunity, says Dr. Cathcart. "Many of my patients with herpes zoster have low immunity, so I work with an array of nutrients to rebuild their systems," he explains. These nutrients include vitamin A, the B-complex vitamins, zinc, selenium and others. For the full story on boosting your immune system, see page 320.

[link to www.mothernature.com]
Anonymous Coward
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Re: SHINGLES... PAIN.. HELP?
Ways to Get Shingles Pain Relief
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Nancy Clyne
Published April 04, 2007 by:
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More:VaricellaShinglesNatural Pain ReliefChicken Pox
Those of us who have had the chicken pox, also carry the dormant virus Shingles also known as varicella zoster. Most people get Shingles after the age of 45 but there are some cases where younger adults have
contracted the disease. The disease manifests itself through red little groups of blisters like a rash only on one side of the body. If Shingles is not treated immediately, they can become extremely painful as it attacks the nerves of the body.

The typical symptoms of shingles are vague at first, such as numbness, tingling and/or itching and, within a couple of days; you will have the rashes appear along with the pain, which yet again can be mistaken for several other conditions depending on the part of the body that is affected.

How To Treat Shingles

Treating shingles may differ from person to person depending on your present state of health, however your doctor will most likely treat your shingles with antibiotics such as, aciclovir (Zovirax, valaciclovir (Valtrex) and/or famciclovir (Famvir).

Treating shingles pain relief may come from using these medications but separate measures maybe needed to be provide temporary relief. A relatively new way to get shingles pain relief is through the Lidoderm patch, which contains lidocaine and treats the pain from the tips of the nerves providing relief fast.

Your doctor may prescribe pain killers to ensure Shingles pain relief and if the pain is acute your doctor may have to inject pain killers into the spine. In some people the pain may last years after the disease has been treated since Shingles attacks the nervous system. However, never overuse pain killers in order to relieve the pain, as usually that will cause you more damage than any benefit.

Alternative Natural Treatments For Shingles Pain Relief


Many People have also used alternative natural ways to ensure Shingles pain relief. These natural remedies consist of herbs, aroma therapies and acupuncture that work directly on your
nervous system. Many patients with shingles use natural remedies such as acupuncture due to the fact that it does not have any side effects. Also many elderly patients use alternative natural remedies because they are already having other medical conditions for which they administer powerful antibiotics.

So the sooner you start the treatment the sooner you are likely to get relief. If you suspect that you may have Shingles you need to make appointment with your doctor immediately since Shingles is a very serious disease that can cause a number of fatal damages to the body's nervous system if untreated.

With the availability of the chicken pox vaccine, it is possible to prevent Shingles all together. Although there is some possibility that you could get Shingles, even if you have had the chicken pox vaccine, but at least it is a step worth taking to prevent the pain and damage Shingles brings.





[link to www.associatedcontent.com]
Anonymous Coward
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04/11/2010 07:07 AM
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Re: SHINGLES... PAIN.. HELP?
did..

he said have to let it run it's course...
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 940137



hes correct stop whinign and use it as a test to see how much balls u really have ;) ure prolly gonna need that type of attitude in the future anywayz ;)

try forgetabout it, resist the itching, distract yourself get you rmind off it. mate had it just the other week, he too simply had to ride it and hes now perfectly fine despite the swollen face, eyesocket, pimples all over his forehead and crazy ass itching! :D

smile on shingle! ;)
Anonymous Coward
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04/11/2010 07:09 AM
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Re: SHINGLES... PAIN.. HELP?
OP watch out your face doesn't hurt after it you know. I'm 23 and I got diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia which is rare for someone of my age. But the GP said people can get it AFTER they have shingles, just a heads up OP.

Goofy Thum
Anonymous Coward
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04/11/2010 07:13 AM
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Re: SHINGLES... PAIN.. HELP?
Epidural steroid injection will help promote the healing of the nerve trauma from the break-out along the nerve sheath. Unless it is a trigeminal nerve then peripheral nerve blockade works best.
ShadowFox

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04/11/2010 07:14 AM
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Re: SHINGLES... PAIN.. HELP?
And not one post mentions vitamin D3 5000 iu dosage to boost immunity ? Jeez!
Anonymous Coward
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04/11/2010 07:16 AM
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Re: SHINGLES... PAIN.. HELP?
Epidural steroid injection will help promote the healing of the nerve trauma from the break-out along the nerve sheath. Unless it is a trigeminal nerve then peripheral nerve blockade works best.
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 937866


Yeh like a Teflon sponge like thing. Or OP could go for MVD surgery if he desires. I'm on Tegretol for a year then I can get the surgery WOOO HOOO cant wait
Anonymous Coward
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04/11/2010 07:18 AM
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Re: SHINGLES... PAIN.. HELP?
Pure aloe works great
nrg
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04/11/2010 07:25 AM
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Re: SHINGLES... PAIN.. HELP?
Shingles
Previous Chapter Scurvy
Next Chapter Smog Exposure


Chickenpox Revisited

Childhood chickenpox is usually no big deal. A rash of itchy blisters, a touch of fever, a couple of days in bed and a few bowls of ice cream, and you're better. You might not even remember having had it.

But the virus that causes chickenpox remains in your body in nerves at the base of your spine, and it may reactivate years later as a searing case of shingles, or herpes zoster, its medical name.

When the virus flares, it moves out along the pathway of whatever nerve is involved, usually on the trunk, neck or face. The nerve becomes inflamed and extremely sensitive to touch. The area where the nerve reaches the skin burns and stings, then erupts in a splay of painful blisters that may last for up to a week or longer.

Shingles isn't something that you can just shrug off. And you shouldn't ignore it, even if you could. Doctors consider it a "pain emergency" and can offer some relief. Some studies also suggest that post-herpetic neuralgia, the lingering pain that sometimes follows an attack of shingles, is less likely to occur if you are treated within 72 hours of the onset of blisters with high doses of drugs that stop the virus from multiplying.

People with infections such as HIV and those taking chemotherapy drugs for cancer or immunity-suppressing drugs to protect organ transplants are at highest risk for a shingles episode. And your risk goes up simply as you get older.

"Most doctors use drugs to treat shingles, and a few drugs now in the pipeline may provide more help than ever," says Stephen Tyring, M.D., Ph.D., professor of dermatology, of microbiology and immunology, and of internal medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.

Still, some doctors add nutritional therapy to their treatments, hoping to reduce inflammation, protect nerves and restore strong immunity, says Richard Huemer, M.D., a doctor in private practice in Vancouver, Washington, with a special interest in nutrition. Here's what they recommend.

Vitamin B12 May Aid Recovering Nerves

It's considered an old-fashioned remedy, and it apparently doesn't work for everyone. But some doctors give their patients with shingles injections of vitamin B12.

"It's true that this treatment has been around for a while, and it's one of the things we do where we can be pretty sure that we are going to get beneficial results," Dr. Huemer says. "Usually, it helps relieve the pain, probably more than anything else we offer, and it seems to shorten the course of the illness."

A study by Indian researchers reported that 21 people with shingles showed "dramatic response," as judged by relief of pain and the speed with which blisters disappeared, starting the second or third day of treatment with vitamin B12 injections. What's more, none developed the lingering pain of post-herpetic neuralgia.

Vitamin B12 is known to play an important role in nerve function, Dr. Huemer says. "It's needed by nerves to maintain the protective myelin sheath, a thick layer of fatty membranes that wraps around nerves and insulates them," he explains.

Injections of vitamin B12 are absorbed more efficiently by the body than supplements. If you're interested in B12 injections, you'll need to enlist the aid of your doctor. Doses vary. Dr. Huemer gives up to 2,000 micrograms once or twice a week until symptoms improve, then tapers off the dose. Other doctors may give 500 micrograms daily for six days, then weekly for six weeks.

It's impossible to get this large amount of vitamin B12 from foods. Supplements can be helpful at 1,000 to 2,000 micrograms a day, according to Dr. Huemer. Absorption from supplements isn't as beneficial as injections, he explains. This amount of B12 is extremely high (the Daily Value is only 6 micrograms) and should be taken only under a doctor's supervision.

Along with vitamin B12, some doctors give injections of folic acid and the rest of the B-complex: thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6 and the like. "Many of these vitamins work together, and restoring all of them helps people get better faster," says Robert Cathcart, M.D., a doctor in private practice in Los Altos, California.

Vitamin C May Dry Up Blisters

It's not exactly what you would call recent research. But two studies, one from 1949 and another from 1950, suggest that people having shingles outbreaks get substantial relief from intravenous doses of large amounts of vitamin C.

In one of the studies, by researchers in North Carolina, seven of eight people with shingles reported relief from pain within two hours of the first dose, drying of blisters within one day and complete clearing in three days. In the other study, French researchers reported that they were able to cure all 327 people with shingles with three days of intravenous vitamin C.

Vitamin C may help bolster immunity in several different ways, explains Raxit Jariwalla, Ph.D., head of the virology and immunodeficiency programs at the Linus Pauling Institute of Science and Medicine in Palo Alto, California. Additionally, studies show that in large doses, vitamin C can inhibit replication of certain types of viruses, including those in the herpes family, Dr. Jariwalla says. It can also impair the ability of certain viruses to cause infection, he adds.

How vitamin C exerts its antiviral action isn't known, Dr. Jariwalla says. "It's probably by a multi-targeted effect rather than a single effect," he says.

By virtue of its antioxidant ability, vitamin C can also neutralize inflammation-causing biochemicals that are produced by immune cells as they do battle, Dr. Jariwalla says. That talent may help spare nearby cells that would otherwise be damaged by the battle between immune cells and viruses.

Many of the doctors who prescribe vitamin C for viral infections use it both intravenously, as neutralized sodium ascorbate, and in the largest oral dose that can be tolerated without causing diarrhea, Dr. Cathcart says. "We literally flood the body with vitamin C," he says. This large amount helps keep both blood levels and levels inside cells high enough to dampen inflammation, he explains. He usually gives daily intravenous doses for three to five days, by which time the blisters are gone. "I've never had a case that goes on to post-herpetic neuralgia or neuritis," he says. "This handles it very nicely."

Large amounts of vitamin C can cause diarrhea. For this reason, Dr. Cathcart explains, a doctor should determine how much vitamin C can be tolerated without diarrhea before a high dose is prescribed. In addition, notes Dr. Jariwalla, the amount of vitamin C that a person can tolerate before a laxative effect is experienced increases with the severity of illness or infection. If you'd like to try this therapy for shingles, you should discuss it with your doctor.

While it's impossible to get a high-enough dosage of vitamin C from foods, many doctors suggest that you'd still do well to include citrus fruits in your daily diet. That's because the white rinds and membranes of citrus fruits contain bioflavonoids, chemical compounds related to vitamin C that are also potential immunity boosters and inflammation fighters.

Food Factors

The shingles virus, herpes zoster, responds to the same dietary changes used for herpes simplex, the virus that causes cold sores and genital herpes. Here are the details.

Pay attention to amino acids. Research indicates that large doses of lysine, an essential amino acid, inhibit replication of the virus responsible for shingles.

"I recommend 2,000 to 3,000 milligrams of lysine a day during a shingles outbreak, more in stubborn cases," says Robert Cathcart, M.D., a doctor in private practice in Los Altos, California. Although lysine is commonly found in foods such as beef, pork, eggs and tofu, it may be necessary to take a supplement in order to get this high amount. The amino acid appears to have no side effects, since it's taken in high doses for only a short period of time, Dr. Cathcart adds. Lysine supplements are available in health food stores.

Ax arginine-rich foods. These include

Prescriptions for Healing

The main treatment for shingles consists of drug therapy. There are, however, a few nutrients that some doctors recommend.

Nutrient Daily Amount

Vitamin B12 1,000-2,000 micrograms

Vitamin C Largest dose tolerated without diarrhea, as prescribed by your doctor

Vitamin E 400-600 international units

MEDICAL ALERT: If you have shingles, you should be under a doctor's care.

The amount of vitamin B12 recommended here is many times the Daily Value and should be taken only under medical supervision. Depending on the severity of your condition, your doctor may choose to administer B12 by injection.

Before prescribing a high dose of vitamin C, your doctor should determine how much of this nutrient you can tolerate. Some people experience diarrhea with amounts of more than 1,200 milligrams daily. For this reason, it's important that you discuss this therapy with your doctor.

If you are taking anticoagulant drugs, you should not take vitamin E supplements.

Vitamin E May Ease Long-Irritated Nerves

One of the worst potential consequences of a shingles attack is pain that just won't quit, caused by chronic nerve inflammation. Although it hasn't been studied recently, several older research reports suggest that high doses of vitamin E can help resolve this persistent pain.

One report, published in 1973 by Los Angeles dermatologists Samuel Ayres, M.D., and Richard Mihan, M.D., found "highly gratifying results" with vitamin E used orally and topically. Of 13 people treated, 9 experienced complete or almost complete relief from pain, 2 were moderately improved, and 2 were slightly improved. Two of those who experienced complete or almost complete relief from pain had had post-shingles pain the longest: one for 13 years, the other for 19 years.

Vitamin E is incorporated into the fatty membranes of all cells, including nerve cells, which are protected by the myelin sheath, the thick wrapping of fatty membranes mentioned earlier, explains Dr. Huemer. There, vitamin E helps shield cells from the damage that occurs during a viral attack. Vitamin E can neutralize harmful biochemicals that are produced by immune cells as they ward off viruses. It may help stop the damage that can lead to lingering inflammation, Dr. Huemer says.

Dr. Ayres and Dr. Mihan used high doses of vitamin E in their study: 1,200 to 1,600 international units daily. Dr. Huemer simply recommends 400 international units a day. Consider medical supervision for doses of more than 600 international units daily.

Order the Complete Package

Vitamin E, along with other nutrients, stimulates immunity in other ways that may be helpful to people with shingles, especially those who seem to have weakened immunity, says Dr. Cathcart. "Many of my patients with herpes zoster have low immunity, so I work with an array of nutrients to rebuild their systems," he explains. These nutrients include vitamin A, the B-complex vitamins, zinc, selenium and others. For the full story on boosting your immune system, see page 320.

[link to www.mothernature.com]
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 940033

















good info here bout covers it. secrete is your own power to survive the "Little Death" that will replace your present ego with a healthier one.this "little death" of your bad habits will find you eating some aloe vera, minimizing alcohol, maximizing rose-hips + meditation. Or rot to death from virus related discomfort,your body, your power!!!


do your best. Ive watched so many in my family rot from shingles, they all eat shitloads of meat also,humph. shroom
Anonymous Coward
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04/11/2010 12:52 PM
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Re: SHINGLES... PAIN.. HELP?
Take the basic vitamins to help healing. I took ibuprofen. It helped but you are in for several days of hell.
Anonymous Coward
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Re: SHINGLES... PAIN.. HELP?
MAGNETS!
MAGNETS!
MAGNETS!

APPLY THE NORTH SIDE OF A MAGNET TO THE WORST AREA.
ALSO
SIT ON THE MAGNET SO THAT IT IS UNDER THE END OF YOUR SPINE.

THE MAGNET SHOULD BE AT LEAST 1"X2".
I THINK THE FINISHED SIZE IS 3/4"X1 3/4".
YOU CAN USE A 2X2 WHICH WOULD BE BETTER, BUT YOU MIGHT FIND IT TO BE TOO STRONG.

How do you know if it is too strong?
You will become very uncomfortable.
Anonymous Coward
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04/11/2010 01:08 PM
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If the pain is more topical than internal, break open enough Advil Gel Caps and spread the gel over the affected area. This is good for all manner of painful maladies as well, such as insect bites. Works like a charm.
.
Only Me
Strawberry Girl

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04/11/2010 01:30 PM

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Re: SHINGLES... PAIN.. HELP?
If the pain is more topical than internal, break open enough Advil Gel Caps and spread the gel over the affected area. This is good for all manner of painful maladies as well, such as insect bites. Works like a charm.
.
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 903124



It's not, really. The surface of the skin does feel like someone just flung boiling grease on you, but the pain goes deep. The reason for that is because it is an inflamed nerve. The virus hangs out around your spine and when it flares, it hurts from the root all the way to the exit (the blisters).

Shingles sucks.

Unfortunately, OP, pain pills alone really don't work.

I did find something that helped. Lidoderm. It's a numbing skin patch. Of course you can't use it until the blisters dry out (try some benadryl cream to dry them out). Lidoderm helps the surface pain, and that way the pain pills can do the job of helping you out with the deeper pain.


I have had shingles like 7-8 times. Don't know why but I'm just prone to it. First time I had it, I was 7 yrs old.
Goodbye, halcyon days...

 There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable.

There is another theory mentioned, which states that this has already happened.
Anonymous Coward
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04/11/2010 01:44 PM
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Re: SHINGLES... PAIN.. HELP?
Oil of oregano will stop the pain and cause the sore to dry up. It will hurt like hell for a few minutes after you apply it. I suggest using the product below fill strength. A few times a day. After treating about 3 occurrences this way you will find them less frequent and less sever.

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Here is an inexpensive place to get the really good stuff

[link to www.se1.us]

Our oil of oregano is 100% pure and only $17 an oz. Don't buy diluted, overpriced copy cats.

Oil of Oregano
1 Oz of 100% pure Oregano Oil!
This is the most powerful Oregano Oil available! Oregano is rated by the level of "carvacrol" (active ingredient). Most products have as low as 7% carvacrol and some go as high as 65% carvacrol. Our Oregano Oil is a whopping 85% carvacrol
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In the mean time while you are waiting for your order to arrive. Try taking a bath in Oxy clean or a similar product. That has worked for me. Or you might try making a paste of it and applying it to the sore.
Anonymous Coward
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04/11/2010 01:49 PM
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Re: SHINGLES... PAIN.. HELP?
amputate
Anonymous Coward
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Netherlands
04/11/2010 01:49 PM
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Re: SHINGLES... PAIN.. HELP?
If the pain is more topical than internal, break open enough Advil Gel Caps and spread the gel over the affected area. This is good for all manner of painful maladies as well, such as insect bites. Works like a charm.
.



It's not, really. The surface of the skin does feel like someone just flung boiling grease on you, but the pain goes deep. The reason for that is because it is an inflamed nerve. The virus hangs out around your spine and when it flares, it hurts from the root all the way to the exit (the blisters).

Shingles sucks.

Unfortunately, OP, pain pills alone really don't work.

I did find something that helped. Lidoderm. It's a numbing skin patch. Of course you can't use it until the blisters dry out (try some benadryl cream to dry them out). Lidoderm helps the surface pain, and that way the pain pills can do the job of helping you out with the deeper pain.


I have had shingles like 7-8 times. Don't know why but I'm just prone to it. First time I had it, I was 7 yrs old.
 Quoting: Only Me

People with too many STDs tend to get shingle outbreaks more than usual.
Manassas John
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04/11/2010 01:49 PM
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Re: SHINGLES... PAIN.. HELP?
Get a shot of Valtrex asap for virus.

For pain apply Zostrix or Capzasin.

I went through this several years back. Stress can be a trigger.
Only Me
Strawberry Girl

User ID: 725691
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04/11/2010 01:52 PM

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Re: SHINGLES... PAIN.. HELP?
People with too many STDs tend to get shingle outbreaks more than usual.
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 924922


um...maybe. what usually causes it is a broken down immune system. most of the times i've had shingles, it was about 2 weeks after i had taken steroids for asthma. Steroids break down the immune system.

I suppose someone with a suppressed immune system would be more likely to catch STDs...but that's not what causes shingles.
Goodbye, halcyon days...

 There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable.

There is another theory mentioned, which states that this has already happened.
Anonymous Coward
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04/11/2010 01:52 PM
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Re: SHINGLES... PAIN.. HELP?
You need a better doc!

Shingles pain has been known to be so severe patients have tried suicide to escape it. No competent doc would leave you "untreated and in pain". This clown obviously does NOT understand the deep nerve pain these things can engender.

My "normal" Rx for Shingles was Valcyclovir (500mg po TID) and Percoset or Percodan for pain. If that didn't work, we'd step up to time release morphine at bout 30mg every four to six hours. The dose sometime had to be boosted for some patients depending on level of pain and tolerance to Morphine Time release tabs. This pain can be fucking awful. Like I said - get a better doc. This lazy bastard doesn't want to write for a controlled substance (scheduled drugs require a special Rx type blank in most states.)
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 940377
Japan
04/11/2010 02:07 PM
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Re: SHINGLES... PAIN.. HELP?
Seems that Ravensara oil or Oregano oil works very well. My client tried Ravensara after reading this and reported good results.

The following story is posted on many alternative websites regarding Shingles treatment.

See the full text below and also check out the links:

(see video near end )
[link to homespaladytips.blogspot.com]


(be sure to read this too)
[link to www.medicinehunter.com]


(many cures on this page)
[link to www.warrior-priestess.com]

Hope this helps.
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 940891
United States
04/12/2010 06:07 AM
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Re: SHINGLES... PAIN.. HELP?
You need a better doc!

Shingles pain has been known to be so severe patients have tried suicide to escape it. No competent doc would leave you "untreated and in pain". This clown obviously does NOT understand the deep nerve pain these things can engender.

My "normal" Rx for Shingles was Valcyclovir (500mg po TID) and Percoset or Percodan for pain. If that didn't work, we'd step up to time release morphine at bout 30mg every four to six hours. The dose sometime had to be boosted for some patients depending on level of pain and tolerance to Morphine Time release tabs. This pain can be fucking awful. Like I said - get a better doc. This lazy bastard doesn't want to write for a controlled substance (scheduled drugs require a special Rx type blank in most states.)
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 642285



many thanks for all the much needed info...

yeah when it first started i woke up in pain on my right side under my right breast next to my chest, could not find out what was causing the pain and after having one heart attack already i was prepared to go to hospital if needed, but also thought it might have just been where i laid in the bed wrong, well the pain started like on monday, really sharp pain, then by wednesday night i was in so much pain that i hsad no choice but to go to ER. they took blood, urin, x-rays and even a gallbladder test thinking i had gallbladder problems, everything came back okay so they released me in pain with a prescrip for loratab. by the time i got in to see my reg. doc on friday i had what looked to me like a rash. it did not fully appear until after i had left the x ray and gallbladder scan and i assumed it was just because of the gell they used on the ultrasound and that i was alergic to it. the doc came in got the faxed results from the ER told me to undress my shirt then came back in with a nurse took one look and said i need to not go any futher you have shingles.. he gave me a prescrip for acyclovir 800mg and said see you back when your reg. meds run out. ( which is like 4 months from now )

i have been in bad health for a long time, i have cancer polyps that are cut out each year, have asthma, and had a previous heart attack. i am 37 years old and never had a fever blister before, but did have chickenpox when i was really young. it says this is by the same virus and even has the herpies name in it which kind of scares me because i have only had 2 sexual partners in my intire life, one by a rape when i was 15 and then by my hubby.

still this hurts like a bitch...

anyone know how long it will last?

it is on my right breasdt and the pain goes around to my chest and into my back. it hurts and takes my breath a lot..please tell me the pain will soon ease?
Anonymous Coward
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United States
04/12/2010 06:17 AM
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Re: SHINGLES... PAIN.. HELP?
amputate
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 836696

lol...

i can't remove my boob..

i need my boob for my hubby to enjoy.. he loves my ddd size and just having one would be a bitch
FromTheSouth

User ID: 940896
Australia
04/12/2010 06:18 AM
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Re: SHINGLES... PAIN.. HELP?
I JUST FOUND OUT I HAVE SHINGLES. hiding had chicken pox as a child but this sucks big time.. anyone knoe of any pain relief from home i can use? like rubbing alchol, or peroxide, etc.. in terriable pain and i really hate this..

Doc gave me an anti-viral and pain pills but they no help...
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 940137

Could be something here:
[link to www.earthclinic.com]
Anonymous Coward
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04/12/2010 06:53 AM
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Re: SHINGLES... PAIN.. HELP?
I had shingles when I was twelve, which manifested on my upper arms just below the shoulder that started with an itch. Then spread. The doctor said it was caused by a cavity in my tooth. I had no pain.

What I would do now is take lots of Echinacea, which kills viruses, and lots of Vit. C, which cures just about anything when taken in large amounts. Both are inexpensive remedies. The idea is to KILL THE VIRUS.
.
Anonymous Coward
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04/13/2011 02:07 PM
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Re: SHINGLES... PAIN.. HELP?
When in the active phase, the best thing for the pain seemed to be a cold damp cloth. I did not use the cream that contains Capsaisin until after the active phase - i.e., I use it now for my post-herpetic neuralgia. I think it would be a big mistake to use that initially because the active ingredient is the same thing that makes chili peppers hot! But now is just fine.
Anonymous Coward
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04/13/2011 02:13 PM
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Re: SHINGLES... PAIN.. HELP?
I had shingles on my face. On the right side cause its a nerve virus that only shows on either side of the body since your nervous system is a two part device. I loved it cause it hurt like a bitch in heat you can't have. Anyway, my face still tingles where the shingles were nailed down.

Ya, that shit hurts big time. My eyes were swollen shut on the right and the lips. I didn't have it on the left cause , like I said, its got to do with the nervous system and If it gets in your eyes they say it will blind you.





GLP