Shingles Support Group

Hi Joycakes. I have PHN on my left side torso. It's a large area and I've noticed over the past three years that I do have weakness on my left side including movement with my left arm and left hand. Also, I have pains shooting through my left leg and the doctors said it was most likely neuropathy from the nerve damage. There are main nerves that run throughout parts of your body and the one it affected just happened to be an important one. As far as the numbness, I get that mainly in my fingertips and in my left toes as weird as it sounds. I never had any numbness before the Shingles and then the PHN. Some days it will be worse than others, I hope your mother finds relief. :)

She does not complain of pain, just the numbness. I know that she favored the leg because of the nerve pain which I know is horrible, it is very apparent that the muscles have weakened because of favoring them. I try to get her to exercise, but she is convinced her muscles are permanently damaged due to the PHN. I have found no information that mentions long term muscle problems on the net. Her doctor suggested therapy, but again she says it won't help. She thinks because she is up moving that she get enough therapy in that. The problem is that she has learned how to move the leg with different muscles instead of the ones that are meant to be used. Is there a doctor or nurse that is in this group?

Thanks so much for your reply Kenna.

My son had shingles when he was 16 on his back.

Ho Joycakes, I Also have PHN and as Kenna21 describes I seem to notice some muscle weakness (my shingles / PHN is on my right torso). My doc thinks the weakness is due to my "favoring" the muscles in the affected area. Maybe??? I also have some tingling and minor numbness which he thinks is due to nerve damage from the Shingles. However, I mainly have pain and the numbness and weakness are secondary to the pain for me. This is such a difficult condition it is easy to become overwhelmed so be patient with her.

I know different muscles can be affected from the way you position and hold your body. I went to physical therapy for TMJ which I got from grinding my teeth from the pain and the doctor made me correct my posture because it affects everything in your body. I also had to force myself to sit up straight instead of babying my left side. NOT FUN! Wish I could help more.

well all your replies have been helpful. It does sound like she use some more therapy.

thanks for all your help, everyone

I too have muscle weakness and PHN after Shingles onset. While it's mostly on my right side, my overall muscle strength is affected. Has anyone tried Physical Therapy (PT) for the muscle weakness? IF there is PHN as well, how has PT affected the PHN? Helped ? Hurt?

i lost 20 pounds from my phn, possibly from the medications, but this has caused muscle weakness in my legs causing me to trip when going up stairs. i have also developed pain in my shoulder rotator cuff, can't lift my arm over my head. i believe these problems are shingles related.

I have had shingles for almost a month now. The lesions seem to become more intense lately and the itch again. I have them in my
right ear, lower lip, in my throat and on my lower jaw. I recently notice I am having muscle cramps in my right side arm, hand and leg. I just can't think this is due to shingles. What a mess!!!!!