Meet our writers

Win $1,000







Health November 2014

Aid for Age

Shingles on Your Roof Are Good – On Your Body, Not So Much

By Tait Trussell

The virus that causes shingles is a herpes virus. Once you have this virus it stays with you as long as you live. If you had chickenpox as a child, the virus is still in your body, hiding like a burglar, waiting to spring unexpectedly.

Half of all Americans will have had excruciatingly painful shingles by age 80, according to the National Institutes of Health.

The pain of shingles can be debilitating. If it is severe and persists for months or even years, it is called post herpetic neuralgia. Unfortunately, persistent pain is a common symptom in people over 60.

As you probably know, shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. Most of us had chickenpox as kids.

The virus that causes shingles is a herpes virus. Once you have this virus it stays with you as long as you live. If you had chickenpox as a child, the virus is still in your body, hiding like a burglar, waiting to spring unexpectedly.

I’ve been begging my wife for years to get a shot of Zostavax, which blocks the virus. But she’s against even flu shots. I got the Zostavax shot a few years ago. I have a full share of pain already with arthritis, so I can gladly go without added pain.

When the shingles virus comes to life again, the affected nerves and the skin the nerves lead to becomes inflamed. A burning, stabbing pain ensues.

NIH Senior Health explains: “The name shingles comes from the Latin word cingulum, which means "belt" or "girdle." (because it appears on one side of your body) The scientific name for the virus that causes shingles is varicella-zoster, combining the Latin word for "little pox" with the Greek word for "girdle." Another name for shingles is herpes zoster.”

Shingles isn’t contagious. But the fluid from shingles blisters can give you chickenpox, NIH says, if you come in contact with the fluid.

Bacterial infection of the open sores can lead to scarring. In a very small number of cases, bacteria can cause more serious conditions, including toxic shock syndrome and necrotizing fasciitis, a severe infection that destroys the soft tissue under the skin. The burning waves of pain, loss of sleep, and interference with even basic life activities can cause serious depression.

“In patients with immune deficiency, the rash can be much more extensive than usual and the illness can be complicated by pneumonia. These cases are more serious, but they are rarely fatal,” NIH adds.

If you are healthy, shingles usually goes away without complications. It is unlikely you’ll ever get it again.

As seniors, “our natural immunity gradually loses its ability to protect against infection. The shingles virus can take advantage of this and become active again….Conditions that weaken the immune system can also put people at risk for shingles…. Shingles is especially dangerous for anyone who has had cancer, radiation treatments for cancer, HIV/AIDS, or a transplant operation,” NIH also states. 

The shingles blisters are so sensitive to pain, even the touch off of clothing is extremely painful. Taking a cool bath or using cool, wet compresses on your blisters may help relieve the itching and pain, recommends the Mayo Clinic.

 

According to WebMD:

  • Avoid picking at and scratching blisters. If left alone, blisters will crust over and fall off naturally. “Use cool, moist compresses if they help ease discomfort. Lotions, such as calamine, may be applied after wet compresses.
  • Apply cornstarch or baking soda to help dry the blisters.     
  • Using nonprescription pain medicines, such as acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen, to help reduce pain during an attack of shingles or pain caused by post herpetic neuralgia.
  • If you are already taking a prescription pain medicine, talk with your doctor before using any over-the-counter pain medicine. Some prescription pain medicines have acetaminophen (Tylenol), and getting too much acetaminophen can be harmful.

If home treatment doesn't ease the pain, see your doctor. Getting your pain under control right away “may prevent nerve damage that may cause pain that lasts for months or years,” says WebMD.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that anyone over age 60 get the shingles shot even if they have had shingles because the virus can come back.

 

Tait Trussell is an old guy and fourth-generation professional journalist who writes extensively about aging issues among a myriad of diverse topics.

Meet Tait