Could I possibly have shingles?!
Question: I have these sensations on the skin covering my ribcage, only on the left side and it is an area about 6 inches long and 3 inches wide. Sometimes I feel as though my skin is crawling, at other times when my shirt or blouse touches this area, it is very painful. Throughout the day I feel like I am being stabbed, but I feel it only on the skin, not like pain on the insdie of my body. Its is not bone or muscle that has these sensations. When I lift my shirt there are no signs of anything on my skin, no blisters, bites or lesions. I have heard that a person can have shingles without the blistering. I am also wondering if these weird sensations are just stress related. I talked to a nurse friend of mine and she had no clue and told me to go to a doctor. I don't feel sick. these sensations are the only symptoms I have. I'm wondering if anyone out there has experienced anything similiar to my symptoms.
Answers: I have these sensations on the skin covering my ribcage, only on the left side and it is an area about 6 inches long and 3 inches wide. Sometimes I feel as though my skin is crawling, at other times when my shirt or blouse touches this area, it is very painful. Throughout the day I feel like I am being stabbed, but I feel it only on the skin, not like pain on the insdie of my body. Its is not bone or muscle that has these sensations. When I lift my shirt there are no signs of anything on my skin, no blisters, bites or lesions. I have heard that a person can have shingles without the blistering. I am also wondering if these weird sensations are just stress related. I talked to a nurse friend of mine and she had no clue and told me to go to a doctor. I don't feel sick. these sensations are the only symptoms I have. I'm wondering if anyone out there has experienced anything similiar to my symptoms.
These symptoms could be the precursor to a shingles outbreak. They sound very similar to what other patients have told me. Eventually, there will be lesions present if this turns out to be shingles. And yes, stress is often what brings on a shingles outbreak. If you do break out, get to your doctor so you can get some anti-viral medication which will shorten the duration of the outbreak. You may need some strong pain medication too - shingles is often very painful.
yes it could be shingles, and being run down and stressed can make it happen, I would still go see a doctor
sounds like it. my friend had the same symptoms. go see the doctor.
Yes, I believe you have shingles. Some people never actually break out, but they are on the inside like my husband's. His hurt for at least 6 months, so I advise you to see a doctor. The sooner you get started on the meds, the better!!
When I had them, it felt like a bad sunburn and insect s biting me. Thank goodness they broke out in a very small patch and the meds dried them up pretty quickly.
This looks more like post-herpetic neuralgia (a complication of shingles), or neuralgia caused by something other than shingles. A shingles outbreak always causes a rash and blisters (although the blisters often go unnoticed) and shingles do not cause a stabbing pain.