I can see why you are feel fear over this. You already have so much to deal with. My grandmother had shingles. That would have been about 50 years ago. I always heard it said that she got them because of extreme stress in her life.
Just in case you are unable to research this online, I found this site for you. http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/shingles/shingles-treatment-overview Hope it helps. It sounds like you need to get care sooner rather than later. And that it might be pretty easy to diagnose. So even your pain doctor may be good enough so that you don't have the extra burden of fining a new gp right away. Or are there any publicly funded clinics in your area? I'm guessing you are already on the pain med's they talk about. You would just need anti-viral meds.
Hugs and wishes for you to not have this or at least to get your needs for care met easily.

Yeah, I heard stress can be a huge factor in shingles exploding on the body. And MPS is nothing if not stressful. You have a weird healthcare system over there if you can't find a doctor to see. Really wish you good luck getting resolution quickly.

I can vouch for the fact that extreme stress will bring out shingles. I was psychologically evaluated prior to surgery, and still ten days later, came down with shingles, then the suture infection, and the cough I have had since the surgery has gotten worse.
Go to the shingles site, look at the pictures of the shingles - I think it's on MikeWhite's profile to help you see what the shingles look like.
I will say this: when I stated I thought it was shingles, even the primary care provider didn't believe me. He finally did when I showed him the level of pain.
Best wishes.

Well, my leg feels much better today. The super tenderness has gone and I am pretty much back to the regular pain levels. Maybe it was not shingles but just a nerve flare up. Great. Another type of flare to experience!

I'm glad it's gone. The relief of the shingles pain has made the rest of my pain seem less potent, so I'm doing a little more.
Here's to pain relief!

Glad your leg pain is better today. Hope it isn't shingles. My mother, brother, nephew, and a friend have had shingles. Extremely painful. Mom used an over the counter salve called Zostrix to help with the nerve pain and my brother was given Lyrica.

I had shingles about 4 years ago. I thought it was a bunch of bug bites at first. They went from my rightside of my spine into a cluster type pattern.

Mine was a mild case, thanks goodness! The only after affect I have is everyday along my spine there is a spot has a prickling and itching sensation. It comes and goes thru out the day.

Im re reading your post and thinking about another possibility.

Along time ago I was visting a friend and she had a hot tub, we all got in. The next morning I had a whole bunch of red bumps, I thought it was an allergic reaction to the hottub chemicals, but it turns out it was from the hot tub being dirty.

Here is what I found on line- Hot tub rash, or dermatitis, is an infection of the skin. Symptoms of hot tub rash include:
Itchy spots on the skin that become a bumpy red rash.
The rash is worse in areas that were previously covered by a swimsuit.
Pus-filled blisters around hair follicles.
Hot tub rash can affect people of all ages.

It said it can happen in hot tubs, jacuzzi and pools etc...

I dont know if yours was from that or not, but Im very glad for you that it went away.

I only wish that the rash I acquired was due to hot tub use. I was experiencing ongoing pain following a fall from a pickup tailgate that nearly knocked me out. The tub temperature was a degree higher than the 104 I had been using and I directed the jets at some sore spots under my armpit and front and back. I had an appointment with my physical therapist. She commented that I had this rash and should have it checked, she suspected shingles- which my MD confirmed.

Since it was too far along to use the "within 72 hours" anti- virals i was given a prescription for Gabapentin. I filled the prescription, read the pharmacist's side effects sheet- then returned the prescription! Apparently the drug companies will sell anything regardless of what it does to a body even if the product is not very effective as a cure and ravages your body.

The rash has moderated but the pain of the area clear around my left side is strong enough that ibuprofen does not do much for it. This is because the current source of the pain is from nerves damaged by the virus.

The pain level is high and bears some similarity to what I experienced during a 4 year period when I was plagued by myofascial pain- but on a wider area- and does not disappear by fining some trigger points and working on them!

Use of some NSAIDS plus some topical applications are of some help.

This is debilitating enough that (coupled with a cold) I collapsed in the immigration and customs line in Cancun airport!

Of course I am now 87, but was doing quite well before this!

Cold applications help, heat seems negative,

I wonder if some expert myofascial release therapy could help?

Hal

Yes, if cold works to reduce the pain, then myofascial will work to help you loosen the tightened areas and find more relief naturally.