It sounds horrible. I hope you get some relief soon.

OMG I’m in the same situation. I’ve had symptoms since Dec18 and after taking gabapentin forever I started to wean myself off. I was feeling pretty good so I went back to work. Mistake! I made it through the day but the next day I had such horrible pain I ended up in the ER. Now I’m on Oxcy and totally doped up which I don’t love.

Started with shingles December 8th . I'm still dealing with the pain although it's not as bad as early on when I had the blisters. I was treated with an antiviral and medrol for 1 week. Now for the last 2 weeks Im on gabapentin, 900mg a day. Not sure if that is helping. Im wondering if the pain slowly subsides over time. Its been 6 weeks for me.

Will, I hope you are feeling better.
Deb thats my dilemna with going back to work. I dont think I can make it through a 12 hr shift. My pain fluctuates throughout the day from about a 6 to a 10. Maybe weaning the gabapentin made your pain worse, even if you think its not helping.

are you ok now, how long did you have shingles, i have had them almost 5 weeks now

NoNo No, I actually got shingles for a second time in December. Didn’t look as bad, treated with meds. Now I have about 6 big deep red spots. It feels like it starts at the skin and then when I press on it it feels like it’s about an inch in the first time I got shingles it was the worst blistering rash ever and then such nerve pain and I also went on gabapentin did nothing then my doctor gave me narcotics hydrocodone 10 mg I originally went there to get a nerve block and he gave me that in six days later I said I don’t want to become addicted to this stuff I’ll try something else. So now on these red dots, The only visible marks left after my second bout , The itch all the time and you can’t stop and it burns and bleeds, worse at night, no sleep, plus the nerve pain. I heard of shingles before but I have never gone through such pain yeah agony just trying to get through the night but I can’t when people tell me don’t itch it, I say it’s impossible, it’s like my back is on fire, I have to..... anything?

I have been using doterra oil's and they help allot. It doesn't have to bed doterra. 10 drops of lavender 10 drops of Thyme 10 drops Melaleuca and one tablespoon of fractionated coconut oil mix it all together in a bowl and apply as needed .

Just diagnosed with shingles a week ago. I can only imagine how horrible it has been those suffering so long. I feel with be one of the long haulers. Pain does not let up even with meds. Stabbing pain too much. Trying to back to work in few days but we will see. Prayers and blessings to us all !!

Im right there with you, I got shingles a month ago. I have it on my brow, and forehead and going onto my scalp. The headaches are the worse i ever had in my entire life, I am 68 and have a high threshold for pain . I cannot lay down to sleep, if i do, I get this burning, shooting horrible pain shooting through the left side of my nose and into my head, I have swelling over my eye, Also looking for suggestions. Thanks for listening

I have learned one trick re intense burning pain on the skin. I think the nerve ending is super-sensitive
because the virus damages the nerves. I use a compound from Force of Nature brand called "nerve pain" that I spray on that helps, but I also think that any thick creme that coats the skin and can be applied like a blob really helps. There's a pricy one on-line with Manuka honey, aloe, and jojoba that is good but basically it is the covering of the nerve ending on the skin that works. Also, vitamin e in high concentration, a small bottle is about $20.00 seems to remove scars and helps with pain a bit, but I am amazed how little help come from the medical community. Gabapentin is a crappy drug for mer; Lyrica works better, and opioids help with sleep, but do watch out for the ox's; they are super addicting . stay safe and hang in.