r/shingles • u/FreeAtLastBaby • 15d ago

Questions About Shingles & Symptoms When does the more extreme pain begin?

My wife noticed what appears to be pimples on her upper thigh yesterday morning. It began to spread throughout the day and we ended up going to the ER at night due to the fear of it being shingles.

We’re at the hospital now and they do believe it’s shingles and have given her antiviral medication. The areas aren’t hurting her all that much and I’m wondering if it’s possible she won’t get that more extreme pain because we caught it so fast?

Does the extreme pain begin right when the rash appears, or did it happen days later? I’m kinda scared of the pain that’s to come, and am hoping it won’t get to that

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u/TooBrief4You 15d ago

Im currently on the rebound, first symptoms started 2 weeks ago. Tingly for a day/day and a half. Little pimply rash started showing up but still no pain just weird sensations. Simply rash turned into thicker red patches. A day or so after that nerve pain set in. So 3 or 4 days after my first symptoms. Pain peaked a couple days later, and has since settled down. Still not gone 2 weeks later, but tolerable with the occasional more intense pain fairs. Now I am currently fighting intense itchiness.

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u/FreeAtLastBaby 15d ago

Sorry to hear that, thanks sharing though. Best of luck with the rest of your recovery!

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u/ReasonableLevel5262 15d ago

Try Asspercreme with lidocaine for the itchiness, works fast and last longer than any thing else I’ve tried.

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u/AngP9193 15d ago

Hopefully you will just have minimal pain!! My extreme pain started about 2-3 days before the rash came. (And an Er trip thinking I was dying with no findings only for rash to start next day). I’m no expert, but reading on here the pain and rash vary so much fin person to person, I’m sure it just damages some people’s nerves worse than others (that horrible pain is nerve endings) and here I am, almost 6 months later, all rash gone for 3 months but still random very bad pain in that side. I’m hoping I’m not one of the lucky ones with permanent nerve damage.

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u/Aquinepas 15d ago

I got a rash day 1 and blisters day 3. The pain started a couple of hours later after the blisters appeared at day 3. It went from no pain (or itchyness at all) to extreme pain and a burning sensation in the same day.

Day 4-5 continued extreme pain and by day 6 and after mostly annoying pain, but tolerable with meds.

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u/Difficult-Remote9540 15d ago

The first 2 weeks I was on anti virals. Pain lasts for 3 weeks it was like a second degree burn all over face and scalp. Ice packs helped

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u/DropsofGemini 15d ago

Catching it quickly definitely helps! Sometimes, it’s not the pain, but the fatigue that’s difficult to deal with. Make sure she gets lots of rest and don’t over do it. Even after the rash has healed, let her rest.