A Shingles Story: Turning Pain into Purpose

A Shingles Story: Turning Pain into Purpose

This story really begins at my annual physical. My doctor suggested the shingles vaccine.

I smiled and said, “Maybe next year. I’m too young for that.” She raised an eyebrow and replied, “Oh no, you’re not.”

Years later, I have replayed that moment in my head more times than I can count.  Looking back, had I made a different choice, my life could be different today.

Shingles Symptoms I Didn’t Recognize

When COVID first hit, like many people, my calendar suddenly emptied.  As a massage therapist there was the stress of lost income, and after many discussions with my new husband, who reassured me we would be fine.  I chose to see this as an opportunity.  Thinking this would only last for a few weeks, I thought, I finally have time for myself.  I threw myself into all the things I usually didn’t have time for — organizing, cleaning, exercising, walking, jogging, yoga. I felt strong.  Capable. Productive.

Then came the pain.

It started as a deep ache in my back, hip, and leg. Not a twinge, not soreness.  Real shooting, stabbing pain. As a massage therapist, I know plenty of techniques to treat muscles.  I tried everything; stretching, massage, even cupping. I even coached my husband through working on me.

Nothing helped. The pain just got worse.

A few weeks later, I went to an orthopedic clinic. X-rays, exercises, medication — still no relief.

And then, a rash appeared.

At first, I dismissed it as stress related. Until a late-night Google search made everything uncomfortably clear.  A telehealth doctor confirmed it immediately: shingles. She prescribed antivirals but warned the timing was not ideal, since my symptoms had started weeks earlier.

Shingles Pain is not Muscle Pain - The Pain I Wasn’t Prepared For

Shingles pain is unlike any musculoskeletal pain I had experience before.  It was sharp, stabbing, relentless, confined to one side of my body following a nerve path with precision. There was no position that brought relief.  I couldn’t stretch it out, walk it off, or find a comfortable position. Moving hurt. Staying still hurt. Sleep was nearly impossible.

I kept waiting and searching for the thing that would fix it.  It never came.

My doctor reassured me it would eventually pass — but five years later, I still live with something called postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), a complication of shingles that damages nerve fibers, leaving behind lingering pain along the nerve path long after the rash resolves.

Some days I function normally.  Other days, every decision requires calculation.

Living with Postherpetic Neuralgia: The Trade-Offs

The hardest part isn’t just the pain — it’s the constant mental gymnastics.

• Can I handle a full client schedule today, or do I need to cut back?

• Do I run errands, or save my energy for work or family?

• Do I garden this weekend, knowing it may trigger a flare-up that affects my entire week?

These choices are invisible to most people, but they shape every day.  Decision fatigue becomes its own kind of exhaustion.

What Helped Me Manage Shingles Nerve Pain / PHN

Over time, I’ve found strategies that make life more manageable:

• Prioritizing sleep and consistent self-care,

• Gentle exercise to keep my body moving without pushing it.

• Anti-inflammatory nutrition.

• Massage therapy, heat, red-light therapy, and infrared sauna for pain relief.

• Reducing stress wherever possible.

There is no one single fix.  But small consistent steps add up, help me move forward.

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned through this experience: trust my instincts.

• Don’t dismiss what your body is telling you.

• If something feels off, speak up and advocate for yourself.  If you don’t, who will?

• Early attention matters — and your voice matters, so does advocacy.

• Don’t give up, just because something is inconvenient, uncomfortable, or painful.

Why I’m Sharing My Shingles Story

I share my story to raise awareness – not sympathy.  Hopefully save others from the road I’ve been down.

• 99% of people carry the virus that causes shingles.

• 1 in 3 people will develop shingles in their lifetime.

• Risk increases over age 50, but younger people can get shingles too.

• Early treatment matters — unexplained nerve pain followed by a rash should be checked right away.

Shingles changed my life, but it didn’t take away my ability to heal, connect, and serve others. 

If this story helps even one person recognize the signs sooner, avoid years of lingering pain, or feel less alone, then turning my pain into purpose is worth it.

Don’t wait. Trust your body. Advocate for yourself.

Talk to your doctor about your risk for shingles and prevention — your future self will thank you