Can you feel shingles internally?

What does internal shingles pain feel like? Many people with internal shingles experience pain or sensitivity in one particular area. A person with the condition may also feel tired and struggle with fevers, headaches, and body aches.


What does internal shingles feel like?

Internal shingles can cause symptoms such as persistent pain, abdominal pain, weakness in facial muscles (Bell's palsy), hearing loss or pain in the ear (Ramsay Hunt syndrome), and headache. When shingles affects internal organs, it's a serious complication that requires urgent medical attention.

Can the shingles virus be internal?

It's called zoster sine herpete (ZSH) or internal shingles. It's caused by the same virus, varicella-zoster virus (VZV), that causes chickenpox and typical shingles (herpes zoster). Internal shingles still causes pain and itching—just without the rash—along with other symptoms.


How long do internal shingles symptoms last?

Shingles is a viral infection that leads to pain and itching that can last 3 to 5 weeks. The varicella-zoster virus causes both shingles and chickenpox.

Does shingles affect internal organs?

Not everyone will suffer complications from shingles; however, in some cases, shingles can lead to long-term pain or affect internal organs. Besides postherpetic neuralgia, other complications that can develop include: Vision loss.


Shingles: What You Should Know | Johns Hopkins Medicine



How do you get rid of internal shingles?

The good news is that treatment options are available, with antiviral drugs such as Valtrex (valacyclovir) and Zovirax (acyclovir) leading the charge in taking on internal shingles. 2 In addition, vaccines for the varicella virus are available and work quite well in preventing onset.

Can internal shingles be cured?

Treatment. There is no cure for shingles, but by diagnosing the condition early, it is possible to: Prevent the spread and severity of shingles. Reduce associated health complications.

Do shingles make you tired and weak?

You may experience fatigue while you have shingles. However, it's also possible to feel fatigued even after the shingles rash has disappeared. Fatigue may happen indirectly due to PHN, a complication of shingles that involves lingering pain. Many people with PHN experience insomnia.


What does shingles deep pain feel like?

Pain that lasts three months or longer after the shingles rash has healed. The associated pain has been described as burning, sharp and jabbing, or deep and aching. Sensitivity to light touch. People with the condition often can't bear even the touch of clothing on the affected skin (allodynia).

What organ system does shingles affect?

Shingles affects the nerves

Anyone who's had chickenpox may develop shingles. After you recover from chickenpox, the virus enters your nervous system and stays inactive for years. Sometimes the virus reactivates and travels along nerve pathways to your skin — producing shingles.

Can shingles affect your digestive system?

They note that when the virus reactivates in neurons that project to the skin, it produces the tell-tale rash. But if it reactivates in enteric neurons, it can cause a painful gastrointestinal disorder.


What complications can you get from shingles?

The most common complication of shingles is long-term nerve pain called postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).
...
Other Complications
  • pneumonia,
  • hearing problems,
  • brain inflammation (encephalitis), or.
  • death.


What medication is given for internal shingles?

Shingles can cause severe pain, so your health care provider also may prescribe: Capsaicin topical patch (Qutenza) Anticonvulsants, such as gabapentin (Neurontin, Gralise, Horizant) Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline.