"Even a slight breeze makes the pain worse": Gudrun becomes seriously ill with shingles

Those who think of shingles as merely a one-sided, belt-shaped rash characterized by red, burning, and itchy blisters underestimate the severe pain that can occur even before the first skin changes appear. This burdens those affected not only during the acute phase of the disease, but also in the long term.

"Even a slight breeze made the pain worse," reports Gudrun, who was affected herself. This is because severe sensitivity to touch can develop, and even simple stimuli can become unbearable, as was the case with Gudrun.

"The most feared complication is, of course, the persistent nerve pain caused by shingles," explains general practitioner Jörg Schelling. In post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), nerve pain persists for months or even years even after the external symptoms subside, and those affected become chronic pain patients.

With shingles, early treatment within 72 hours of the onset of symptoms is crucial. "I remember my doctor saying at the time that it was too late, since you have that famous 72-hour window. She also told me that I should have gone to the hospital," says Jens, who contracted shingles shortly before Christmas.

The longer the diagnosis takes, the more likely complications such as postherpetic neuralgia are. However, due to the often nonspecific, flu-like symptoms that appear even before the first skin changes, timely diagnosis within this narrow time frame is challenging.

By the time the typical rash appears, the disease is often already well advanced. Diagnosis can be even more difficult in people with chronic illnesses. "Chronic illnesses such as diabetes or rheumatic diseases in old age cause very nonspecific symptoms – sometimes even pain. Therefore, it's very difficult to recognize the early signs of shingles," reports geriatrician Jürgen Bludau from his experience.

The nerve pain caused by shingles can then be mistakenly interpreted as symptoms of the chronic disease.

Chronic diseases such as diabetes, rheumatism, COPD, asthma or cancer also increase the risk because they further weaken the immune system.

According to the recommendations of the German Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO), all persons aged 60 and over are entitled to a shingles vaccination. For people with underlying health conditions, the shingles vaccination is recommended from the age of 50.