PSA. I'm home from the doc for my back pain. If you are suffering with pain of unknown cause this info may help you.

[slightlv]

83. Oh, wow Lucky Charms!

I'd never have guessed shingles... especially after you got the shot! And I had no idea you could actually HAVE shingles and NOT have a rash! Makes me wonder....

I've been diagnosed (via testing and via surgery) with Degenerative Disk Disease, Sciatica, stenosis, and whatever it is that compresses the vertebrae in onto of each other with no fluid in between them. I've had two surgeries and no doc that said he'd never do back surgery again on a back like mine (shrug).... he should LIVE with my pain! LOL

I've taken oxy, and like you I found that it not only intensified the pain, it concentrated it to a knife's pinpoint. I don't like it, and if I take it, in addition to the pain focus, it gives me a damned headache to boot! I'm on hydro, and other than never being able to get a damned bottle to last for 30 days before I can get the next script filled, I have no complaints... I've just developed such a tolerance for it and the country today would rather scream "drug addict" and restrict my access to the only drug that's helped. But oh, gods! Do I empathize when you say suicidal pain!

My pain always starts in the low center between L and S and then moves immediately down my left side, but it doesn't go around toward the groin... on the back and outside of my hip and thigh only. I had the right hip replaced about a decade or two ago, and have begun wondering if it's time to do the same for the left hip. I wasn't looking forward to it because I'm so much older now, and there's no one around here to help out while I recover, or to ensure that hubby is okay and eating.

You've given me pause to research other avenues. Thank you! And I'm so glad you found a good diagnosis and treatment. Did you have the 1-shot vax or the 2-shot vax? I'm wondering if the differences in the two vaccines had any effect on you actually manifesting shingles? I had athe 2-shot, and have never given shingles another thought. I had a *very* slight case along one side of my face and chin and throat. And OMG! I literally thought I was gonna die! Never mind I'd opened up my home to a FidoNet club to which I belonged and had about 30 people bedding down all over my house! Doc told me mine was stress-induced. THAT I could believe! I'd been working on the planning committee for about 3 months prior to everyone landing at my house. We had a great time, don't get me wrong... but it wouldn't have been so much better without the pain in my face and throat.