Treatment Of Severe Shingles Pain

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Get the Facts

Herpes Zoster (Shingles)

What Is Shingles? Shingles is a very painful disease caused by the same herpes virus that causes chicken pox (varicella zoster virus). Like other herpes viruses, the varicella-zoster virus has an initial infectious stage, (chicken pox) followed by a dormant stage. Then, with no warning, the virus becomes active again. About 20% of people who have had chicken pox will eventually develop shingles. This reactivation of the virus is most likely to...

Ask the Experts

Shingles Starting Treatment & Queen Issues (SHINGLES AND HIV, 2009) (WHEN TO START ANTIRETROVIRAL TREATMENT, 2009)

Hi Dr Bob, Three weeks ago I came down with Shingles. A small patch on the back of my neck and a little across my chest all on the left side. I went to my local GP and he gave me Valtrex ( the 7 day shingle pack)Since then the pain has...

Response from Robert J. Frascino, M.D.

The Robert James Frascino AIDS Foundation

G'day Aussie Drew,Relax mate! Approximately 95% of healthy adults are seropositive for varicella zoster virus (VZV), the virus that causes shingles. Of this 95%, about 5% of healthy adults develop zoster (shingles). The risk for those of us... Read more »

Shingles

I've been Hiv+ for 19 years never taken any meds and my T-cells and viral load vary from 225 T-Cells to over 626 in a year. Viral load slowly creeping up.In the the last year I've had a bout with shingles twice! I'm not stressed am...

Response from Ewald Horwath, M.D.

University of Miami School of Medicine

Shingles is a skin condition consisting of painful blisters that occur in one area of the body (dermatome). It is caused by the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chicken pox, and it only occurs in people who have had chicken pox in... Read more »

What is the best medication for treatment of severe pain associated with HIV/AIDS

I have been on hydrocodone 10mg/325 (tylenol)for several years. My fear is that all the Tylenol that I am ingesting nearly 3230 mg of Tylenol with Hydrocodone to simply be able to get out of bed in the morning due to severe back pain as well as...

Response from Keith Henry, M.D.

University of Minnesota, School of Medicine

There are numerous meds including other narcotics (long acting forms often better), nerve type meds (such as gabpentin), CNS type adjuvants (such as lorazepam or amitryptiline), NSAIDs (like naproxen), acupunture, physical therapy and other... Read more »

Shingles and New Medication

Hey, I'm a male, 25 years old, lead a healthy lifestyle, etc. I was diagnosed today with Shingles and given medication to fix that. My doctor told me that there is a possibility that this is an opportunistic infection as a result of a low CD4...

Response from Gerald Pierone, M.D.

AIDS Research and Treatment Center of the Treasure Coast

Shingles is a reactivation of a chronic Varicella-Zoster virus (VZV) infection. This virus becomes dormant after an initial presentation as Chicken Pox. This virus is more likely to flare up as shingles when there is a decline in cell-mediated... Read more »

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shingles

Posted by tboy, 2 Replies

last week I was diagnosed with shingles. I didn't get nearly the attention of the doctors or information I needed. Oh sure I recieved a prescription but not much information. I'm taking acyclovir (sp?) It is painful to sleep and my leg looks... Read more »

shingles?

Posted by Anonymous, 1 Reply

i had a sexual encounter yesterday with a guy who appeared to have shingles. when i asked him he said it was eczema, which i did not argue, but while changing him in sexual positions i did noticed that the shingles were in his ankles, and other body... Read more »

shingles

Posted by LLsexyLL, 2 Replies

Does anyone know how to prevent getting shingles the second time. I had them Dec 2010 . Now my face has healed but I was told I can get them again.
Is there anyway of preventing getting shingles again? Read more »

Shingles = HIV?

Posted by grcboy30, 5 Replies

Hi there.
I had chicken pox at 5 years old so can develop shingles. I haven't been to the doctor yet but have what I am pretty sure is shingles on the side of my chest (a pink rash which is itchy with bumps). I am terrified of HIV. I am only 30... Read more »

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