Shingles - How to ease the pain?

[Luv Bunnies]

My 85-year old dad has a case of the shingles (he says it's his own fault for procrastinating about getting the vaccine!). He had it diagnosed by the nurse practitioner at his doctor's office and she gave him medication for it. She also said to use calamine lotion to help dry up the sores and take Tylenol for the pain. Since he's on a blood thinner, he can't take Motrin.

Yesterday, the pain got really bad and the Tylenol is no longer helping. He was hoping it would be better today, but it seems to be even worse. I told him to call the doctor's office in the morning and ask if there's a safe prescription pain reliever they could give him. In the meantime, I was wondering what else he might be able to do - cold soaks, hot soaks, other lotions, creams, etc? Can anyone recommend anything that worked for you or a family member? I had a mild case of shingles when I was 26 (that was 20 years ago..yikes!). I had just started a very stressful new job and I got a small patch of shingles on my back. I remember it being very painful, but my dad's affected area is much larger than mine was. From talking to him on the phone, I can tell he is extrememly uncomfortable. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[dandave]

Cool compresses, not hot, should help. Perhaps the doc could prescribe a cortisone cream.

 

[sparklynails23]

My husband used Domboro. It has aspirin, but its topical. You dissolve it in some water, soak your towel in it and apply to the shingle area. It's at the drugstore- over the counter.

 

[disneymarie]

His doctor may perscribe topical Lidoderm Patches. The doctor that invented them for his wife for her own shingles....My younger son had them a few years ago and this helpe him also.
I hope he feels better soon.

 

[minniecarousel]

I think there's a "lidocaine" patch that can help. My Mom's skin was so sensitive, she couldn't use it. The only thing that helped was vicodin. Unfortunately, she suffered with post-herpatic neuralgia (after-shingles-pain) for the rest of her life and the vicodin was the only thing that took the edge off.

 

[drag n' fly]

When one of my kids got shingles the hospital told us not to use Tylenol for pain as it makes the pain worse. Use aleve, advil or motrin etc.

 

[lovemylife]

when I had them a few years ago, the dr suggested that I take Vaseline intensive care lotion and crush asprin into it and rub that in the area. Felt really wierd,a but it did help me.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I think there's a "lidocaine" patch that can help. My Mom's skin was so sensitive, she couldn't use it. The only thing that helped was vicodin. Unfortunately, she suffered with post-herpatic neuralgia (after-shingles-pain) for the rest of her life and the vicodin was the only thing that took the edge off.

Yeah...I have shingles right now. My rash isn't bad...just a small patch on my back..but the pain from area of the rash to my belly button is BAD...Vicodin is the only thing that helps me also.

I really hope the pain isn't permanant.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

My mom had them twice back to back for a total of 4 months, she found that using Neosporin + pain did the trick, even more so than the pain pills that the doctor gave her and it was safer to use multiple times a day.

 

[stargazer2892]

Dmom had them all over the the side of her face and they prescribed Vicodin which she is to stubborn to take. However since they where near her eye they had her to to the optometrist and he said Neo+pain to help them not spread and will help dry them out I guess. The best thing she did was slow down and rest, once she realized that it cleared up pretty quickly.
Hope he feels better soon!

 

[minkydog]

Yeah...I have shingles right now. My rash isn't bad...just a small patch on my back..but the pain from area of the rash to my belly button is BAD...Vicodin is the only thing that helps me also.

I really hope the pain isn't permanant.

It is not at all uncommon to require a narcotic during a shingles outbreak. Tyelnol won't make the pain worse, but it might not work as well as an NSAID (ibuprofen, aleve). OP, if your dad can't get comfortable, have him call his doctor and see if he can get a script for a few Lortabs or Percocets. They can't call that medication in, so you'll have to go pick up the presciption.

 

[RNMOM]

I just saw my doctor this afternoon for shingles. I was 99% sure I had it since Friday but life kept me from being able to call her. She insisted on looking at them. Why is that? I am a nurse for goodness sake. Took one peek and "Yep, shingles". Well, duh. I got antiviral meds and am already on vicodin for my arthritis. It helps the pain but I agree about the non broken out skin, it hurts more than the rash area.

 

[Rabscuttle]

A certain number of elderly patients end up with a "post herpetic" neuralgia that doesn't go away, even after the shingles do. One way to prevent this is a combination of Acyclovir and Neurontin. I hope I spelled it right. The Neurontin should also be able to address the "nerve pain". The sooner he is treated properly, the better chance he has of full recovery. Good luck.

 

[cluvsdisney]

My mother had them a few years ago...her doctor prescribed percocet for the pain. She's not really a pain pill person and needed to take them for the pain she felt.

I hope you are feeling better soon!

 

[Mama Who]

If Tylenol is his drug of choice, have him switch! Something his sytem isn't quite so used to may have a better effect. The handy thing about OTC pain meds is that for many cases they are pretty interchangeable and he may get more relief out of a couple Advil.

Hope he feels better soon!