Anyone know what skin condition or other conditions I might have?

About two weeks ago, I woke up with an intense "sunburn like" pain in my right hip, near my waist. The next day, I woke up with a sore throat on the right side, and an overall scratchy throat, which later turned into phlem, coughing, and laryngitis. At the same time the pain in my hip spread across my back towards my spine. Then it went a little down my right buttock, and a little up my back towards the bra line. It was intense, and I could not stand to have clothes, or anything brush against it.


I saw my skin Dr. after about one week of this, and he thought it might be shingles, but wasn't sure as I had no rash, or blisters. Same thought with my family Dr. A day later a light red, blotchy rash appeard across the waistline on my back, and a bit up one side. A few days ago, the rash spread to my abdomen, Now I have this pain all around my torso. I have read on the net, that you can have shingles without blisters, but nothing about wide spread pain. Any ideas? IN pain and desparate.
Anyone know what skin condition or other conditions I might have?
Sounds like you may have shingles. You need to go to the doctor as soon as possible. The doctor will prescribe an anti-viral pill that will make you sick but you have to take it or the severity may return throughout your life. You will only be sick for a day and it shortens the amount of time you are in pain. Shingles last for 6 weeks almost to the day. Head to the emergency room today because you need some vicadin, too.
Anyone know what skin condition or other conditions I might have?
a unilateral very painful rash does sure sound like shingles, especially with the initial flu-like symptoms you described. Due to it being a virus, anti-inflammatory pain medicine such as ibuprofen is a good start, plenty of liquids, and 6% lidocaine patches which work well on nerve pain like that.





I do not know if it is shingles or not, but the rash running along a specific site sounds like nerve involvement for sure.





A dermatologist/and or rheumatologist would be your best bet for a definitive diagnosis. WebMD symptom checker can help you know what to say when you get there and further narrow down possibilities.





The AAD (american academy of dermatology) is a good site as well. MayoClinic.com also can be super helpful.





Shingles is extremely painful. Any disease process that affects nerves can be terribly painful. Ask your doctor for a short course of prednisone or methylprednisone dose pack to knock the inflammation and pain down fast. It is cheap, super effective on all sorts of inflammatory disorders, and will make you feel much better fast.





There are other autoimmune disorders and types of inflammatory arthritis that also come with a lot of pain, illness, fatique and rashes. If the doctor could run an ANA titer, a Sedrate, a BMP, and autoimmune bloodwork, you might narrow down the specific cause.





I hope this helps and that you feel better soon. I know it is scary, but there are effective treatments and diagnosis available. The next time someone wants to give you a theory on a diagnosis, ask what tests can help prove or disprove their theory to cut down on how long it takes to figure this out. Good luck to you.
Reply:Shingles will usually affect only one side of the body. I've had shingles and because they are concentrated in the nerves, the pain is unbearable. Did either of your doctors prescribe any medication to shorten the duration of the virus? The pain should eventually subside, but I do recommend getting plenty of rest.
Reply:Shingles pain is the worst! Having experienced it myself, I empathize with you. It can linger even after the rash/blisters are gone. Because it is a nerve pain, pain meds used for muscle pain do not work (such as vicodin, percocet) . Talk with your doctor about meds that work on nerve pain. Don't suffer unnecessarily.