Shingles: What Are the Causes and Best Treatments?

The Doctors weigh in on a viewer question about shingles and they explain what causes the condition and explain how to treat it. Plus, find out who is most at risk.

About The Doctors:

The Doctors is an Emmy award-winning daytime talk show hosted by ER physician Dr. Travis Stork, plastic surgeon Dr. Andrew Ordon and OB-GYN Dr. Nita Landry.

The Doctors helps you understand the latest health headlines, such as the ice bucket challenge for ALS and the Ebola outbreak; delivers exclusive interviews with celebrities dealing with health issues, such as Lamar Odom, Teen Mom star Farrah Abraham, reality stars Honey Boo Boo and Mama June, and activist Chaz Bono; brings you debates about health and safety claims from agricultural company Monsanto and celebrities such as Jenny McCarthy; and shows you the latest gross viral videos and explains how you can avoid an emergency situation. The Doctors also features the News in 2:00 digest of the latest celebrity health news and The Doctors’ Prescription for simple steps to get active, combat stress, eat better and live healthier.

Now in its eighth season, The Doctors celebrity guests have included Academy Award Winners Sally Field, Barbra Streisand, Jane Fonda, Marcia Gay Harden, Kathy Bates and Marisa Tomei; reality stars from Teen Mom and The Real Housewives, as well as Kris Jenner, Caitlyn Jenner, Melissa Rivers, Sharon Osbourne, Tim Gunn and Amber Rose; actors Jessica Alba, Christina Applegate, Julie Bowen, Patricia Heaton, Chevy Chase, Kristin Davis, Lou Ferrigno, Harrison Ford, Grace Gealey, Cedric the Entertainer, Valerie Harper, Debra Messing, Chris O’Donnell, Betty White, Linda Gray, Fran Drescher, Emmy Rossum, Roseanne Barr, Valerie Bertinelli, Suzanne Somers; athletes Magic Johnson, Apolo Ohno and Danica Patrick; musicians Tim McGraw, Justin Bieber, Clint Black, LL Cool J, Nick Carter, Kristin Chenoweth, Paula Abdul, Gloria Gaynor, La Toya Jackson, Barry Manilow, Bret Michaels, Gene Simmons and Jordin Sparks; and celebrity chefs Wolfgang Puck, Guy Fieri and Curtis Stone.

[autumn]

I thought I was having a heart attack like he was saying and it's shingles. Don't underestimate shingles people. It hurts bad!

[LeahHa]

I got diagnosed yesterday, age 45. Lucky for me after 1 day of anti-virals, it’s 50% better. I almost feel guilty for having such an easy time with it after reading about other’s experiences.

[SuperSasha]

I’m 52 and first case of shingles. Started as severe back pain just like kidney stones and two days later I had the rash on the left side of my back and blisters. Very very painful. Chills, headache, nausea. Doc prescribed antibiotics and topical ointment. So painful I can barely get out of bed

[cellogirlrw]

My dad almost went blind in both eyes from shingles, and I remember him crying from the pain when it got to be too much. He said the pain was worse than fracturing his lumbar spine.

[nonyabusiness]

In my late 30's & I got em & it really is terrible 😩! Go to the Dr right away if you suspect you have it! Within the 1st 72 hrs is best! I like to self treat vs going to the hospital but some things you just need medication to help so I'm about to pick up my anti virals & pain cream & I'm praying it helps!

[Clintsessentials]

Have it now at 38...from stress & low immune system. Horrible pain on the left side of my body, torso. Now on antiviral, plus lidocaine patches.

[ludivinadelacruz]

I got shingles now and it hurts like hell.. I thought im going to die cause i cant breath and i have a severe backpain..

[FathomFrequency]

They dont discuss treatment here, they just jaw about how bad it is.

[fazeemanny]

I was diagnosed with Shingles today .. my whole left eyebrow, eye and scalp was itchy n felt like it was burning n the sun wasn’t helping but when I placed my cold hand on it it felt better .. then I had a small rash .. im praying to God I don’t get blind in any eye 😳🙁😢😢😢

[nnnnn]

I got Shingles for the first time when I was 26. I've had it every year since, sometimes twice a yr.
It got to the point of barely being a problem and I'd carry on as normal. This time, not so much! I felt fine when I first noticed the rash, but by the second evening I felt like crap! The lymph nodes on my neck and under one armpit are all swollen and tender so moving my neck around hurts.. The rash looks worse than normal, it had gotten to be just bumps, now this is an angry looking thing, red spots, filled with yuck, and all red around it.. I don't know what's happened this time but it's worse than its been in years.
I don't take medicine as it usually upsets my stomach and flares my IBS.. So I just wait it out.
Wondering what this is going to be like going forward, I expect it to go away because it was seemingly less fierce with each time.. but that's clearly not the case after this round. I can't imagine having this in my 60s or 70s.
Maybe I'm just getting older and less able to cope with it.. But I'm not that old. Maybe I have a weak immune system.. Whatever the reason it can't be good.

[annortiz]

I had shingles at 56. And the pain was excruciating for days (2 trips to the ER) before shingles was diagnosed in my Dr office.

[Awillii]

I was just diagnosed with Shingles at 34.

[jamesfoley]

I thought I had pulled a back/rib muscle. Turns out it was shingles.

[aoabfc]

Had shingles in my 30s. I, along with my parents and 4 siblings, had never been treated for chicken pox, so assumed I never had chicken pox. Weird.

[papatuanuku]

I got my first shingles at 18 it was straight down from my chess and heart it was painful.. especially around the heart area.

[annenyman]

I was waiting for the best treatment, but nothing about that.

[ar]

I am 29. I am having shingels right now. It’s so irritating.

[jerryrada]

I am fighting right now on week 15 if severe pain with internal shingle that no doctors here in South Dakota understand. They all think I should have a outbreak with them and I don't. Does anyone out there know of anywhere that I can find help with this nightmare of pain

[leannemawle]

I had chicken pox around aged 11. I am now 33, pregnant, just had my flu jab and BAM, 3 days later I got shingles. It was okay to begin with but now it’s really uncomfortable.

[Chaptersaudio]

I have it on my face and right eye. I look horrible, but feel worse. So glad the ambulance came when they did.