Does nerve pain and numbness after shingles ever fully go away?

[AndreaMarvell]

I had shingles in May last year, so 13 months ago. It was sheer hell. I had excruciating pain in my right bum cheek and groin for ages. I had numbness in my right thigh and I remember being at Sophie Ellis Bextor's Kitchen Disco tour and not being able to feel my thigh.

It finally eased towards the end of July last year but I was left with numbness around my pubic area. I could literally pinch the skin really hard with my nails and felt nothing. I could have driven a needle through the skin and not felt it. I now have some feeling there (bikini waxes prove the point!) but I still occasionally get tingles and feelings like mini electric shocks in my right thigh. I have it now, it comes and goes from time to time.

Does it ever go away?

Nerve damage of any kind can take a very long time to heal. It took me over a year before those little shocks stopped being a regular thing.

I have recurring shingles. I get shingles in my right thigh every year, especially when I'm stressed.

I have B12 injections to help with nerve regeneration. I've actually noticed that this helps a lot. I pay for this privately myself.

I had shingles in my face about 7 years ago.

It’s not generally numb or painful, unless I am very tired / run down, or it’s very cold. At which point I can see the red marks where there the shingles spots were and it hurts.

Sorry Op, it’s a nasty disease.

I have been very stressed with family, work and house issues lately.

I had shingles over my coccyx about six years ago. It still hurts when I rise after sitting on a hard chair for a while.

I know the horse has bolted now, OP, and it sounds utterly miserable, but for others' information, who may not to eligible for the jab until 75, you can get it privately, "Shingrix" as opposed to the old Zostavax... but its terribly expensive, £250 a jab, so £500 for the course of two, ( over 6-12 months).

I'm sorry you are suffering this, it's so, so grim. X

It's over 65 for the NHS shingles vaccine. I'm 65 and had it last November. People who have had shingles can also get the vaccine.

Yes, DH had it last year and his numbness went away right after. It did, however, trigger neuritis which has essentially crippled him. That’s ongoing after about 11 months now.

It’s only 65 if you turned 65 on or after 1st September 2023. If you turned 65 before then you have to wait until you’re 70. I’m getting it as soon as I turn 70 in August, because even though I’ve had shingles it can return.

I had it in my face three years ago, and still have numbness in my right eyebrow and occasional itches where the worst spots were, plus a permanent itch in one spot on my scalp. I took amitriptyline for a couple of months, but I’m not sure it really did anything- the pain did decrease, but that might have just happened over time anyway.

I had the shingles vaccine at 63, as I had recurring shingles and considered immuno-compromised.

Point is, it’s worth asking if you qualify at a younger age; certainly if you have shingles more than once.

So that means I can get the vaccine because I've had the illness? I didn't know that.

B12 B12 B12- self inject a couple of times a week for 6 months. And have iron, folate, and.B9 and potassium (or it makes you feel worse). Honestly it works.

You should ring up your GP practice to confirm that. My sister had shingles in her 50s and she said it was the worst pain
ever.

I hope you feel better soon.