“After 72 hours, if treatment hasn’t been given, it will just be a case of waiting and riding out the pain,” Marian added.
The Mayo Clinic states that the first signs and symptoms of shingles to look out for include the following:
- Pain, burning, numbness or tingling
- Sensitivity to touch
- A red rash that begins a few days after the pain
- Fluid-filled blisters that break open and crust over
- Itching.
In some cases, individuals will also experience fever, headache, fatigue or sensitivity to light. Depending on the location of the pain, it can sometimes be mistaken for a symptom of problems affecting the heart, lungs or kidneys. In rare cases, people may experience shingles pain without ever developing the rash.
When visiting a doctor, during the 72 hour window or not, individuals will typically be prescribed antiviral drugs. Marian added: “As well as doctors giving you antiviral therapy for the actual outbreak, they can give you pills to control this out of control nerve.
