Shingles Pain Description

by Erik Steel

Overview

Pain is one of the two major symptoms of shingles (herpes zoster); the second is a blistering rash. Shingles is caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the virus that also causes chicken pox.
Time Frame

Pain is the first symptom of shingles, developing in the days leading up to the appearance of the rash. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), pain is sometimes the only symptom, and a rash does not develop; this is a condition known as zoster sine herpete.

Location

Shingles pain (and rash) occurs in a band-like pattern on only one side of the body. This is generally somewhere on the trunk of the body, but may also involve the face and head, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Features

For some people, the pain of shingles is only mild, whereas for others it can be extreme. The Mayo Clinic reports that this pain is sometimes mistaken for problems affecting organs like the lungs, heart and kidneys.
Considerations

It is important for people who believe they may have shingles to visit their doctor. A doctor can prescribe antiviral medications and corticosteroids, along with other pain-management strategies to treat the condition.
Warning

For some people, the pain of shingles lasts after the rash has gone away. This is known as postherpetic neuralgia, and the pain, although treatable, can be long-lasting and severe.