Dang Shingles Shot Hurts!

ClassicRockr

ClassicRockr

Well-known Member
Even though I can't remember if I'd ever had chicken pox, my VA doctor told me that it would be highly advisable for me to get the shot. I've been telling my wife that I would, but kept putting it off. Medicare doesn't pay for it, so had to rely on our drug plan...…..which isn't very good and we plan on changing it.

My wife got hers last October. She had chicken pox when she was young. That one, got at CVS Pharmacy, cost us almost $200. Unfortunately, the one she got last October turned out to be only 30% effective and she needed a new one. Well, actually, the new shingles shot aka Shingrix, is given in two shots, 2-3 months apart.

Neither of us were very happy to know that the almost $200 we spent on her shot in October was gone.

Anyway, I got my "first of two" shots yesterday morning. She got hers yesterday evening. The shot she got last October was fairly painful the night after she got it and this shot wasn't much different. A few hours after I got mine, I had to take ibuprofen for the pain and then, at 11:30PM, I was woken with pain, so I took more ibuprofen. She took an ibuprofen when she went to bed, so she slept fairly good, but my ibuprofen didn't work nearly as good as the one I took in the afternoon. It was excruciating pain for me, but my arm, where I got the shot, was definitely talking to me. Got very little sleep.

Don't feel to bad this AM, but did take a prescription pain killer that I have for my shoulder osteoarthritis pain.

And, in a couple of months, we both have to go back and get one more shot. BUT, getting the shots and enduring the pain is much, much better than getting Shingles and what can possibly come after the Shingles is finally gone.​
 

"[FONT=&quot]Don't feel to bad this AM, but did take a prescription pain killer that I have for my shoulder osteoarthritis pain. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]And, in a couple of months, we both have to go back and get one more shot. BUT, getting the shots and enduring the pain is much, much better than getting Shingles and what can possibly come after the Shingles is finally gone."


I caught shingles when I was in my 20's...even though I had chix/pox . Got them from a girlfriends child. I sure as hell don't want either of them again.

BTW...what prescription pain med for you shoulder do you take? [/FONT]
 
rgp said:
"Don't feel to bad this AM, but did take a prescription pain killer that I have for my shoulder osteoarthritis pain.

And, in a couple of months, we both have to go back and get one more shot. BUT, getting the shots and enduring the pain is much, much better than getting Shingles and what can possibly come after the Shingles is finally gone."


I caught shingles when I was in my 20's...even though I had chix/pox . Got them from a girlfriends child. I sure as hell don't want either of them again.

BTW...what prescription pain med for you shoulder do you take?
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My VA doctor prescribes 50mg Tramadol for me, to be taken one in the AM every-other day, if possible. About the only time I take two days in a row is on the weekends, if we are going to do something, like go to the Range or take out our boat. I have the lowest strength Tramadol available, but after I take one, my shoulder pain is gone for a few hours. Not at the same time, but after having a few bites of breakfast, I also take one 500mg Turmeric that really assists the Tramadol and keeps the pain from coming back to fast.
 

ClassicRockr said:
My VA doctor prescribes 50mg Tramadol for me, to be taken one in the AM every-other day, if possible. About the only time I take two days in a row is on the weekends, if we are going to do something, like go to the Range or take out our boat. I have the lowest strength Tramadol available, but after I take one, my shoulder pain is gone for a few hours. Not at the same time, but after having a few bites of breakfast, I also take one 500mg Turmeric that really assists the Tramadol and keeps the pain from coming back to fast.
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Thanks......

Right now I am taking Indomethacin 50mg, twice daily....but lately have been adding two 500mg Tylenol also twice daily . When I first started on Indomethacin it didn't 'remove' the pain, but it did take the edge off. Lately it seems to be loosing it's effect ?

Humira has been suggested by one doc...but damn,....the [possible] long term negative effects are just plain scary.

So, I'm just researching it all again , asking allot of questions.
 
I got my second dose yesterday at Walgreens. The first one did not give me a problem. But today my arm hurts bad and I have a temp. Going to just take it easy today.
 
I have no idea if I ever had CP and there is no family to ask but I was actually kicking around the idea of going ahead and getting the shot.

Now that you guys say the shot hurts like the dickens I believe I'm gonna pass because.......

I'm chicken banner.jpg
 
I've had chicken pox at 5.

I take a lot of supplements including Lysine off and on during my life.

Never had shingles or shots and will not get shots.

I'm 80 soon and good with my choices. Don't like shots in the dark for anything...maybe life or death situation.
 
One thing is for sure, the Shingles shot can/does hurt, but getting the two doses is much better than getting shingles.

For those that don’t want to get a Shingles or flu shot, that’s entirely up to them. But, wife and I would rather be safe at our age, rather than sorry later. Neither Shingles or the flu is fun to get!!

Yes, the Shingles shot can hurt, but not getting it and getting Shingles can hurt worse.
 
What is the risk of getting shingles? I'm turning it down. Needle shots cause my arm to swell up. A flu shot had my arm sore for three months. When you are old the shingles shot is not that effective.
 
Lots of fear mongering. And more cash cow for pharma. Everyone does what they feel is right for them we all know that one. I do all I can to not support pharma any more than I do with my couple of simple meds which I pay out of pocket. I don't pay for drug insurance...

Lysine is wonderful to reduce that virus.
 
My Medicare drug plan paid $123.00 and I paid $47.00. A good deal as I had a really severe case of CP when I was 5. Feeling better this afternoon. No temp and soreness is better.
 
All needles seem to hurt me. But these cordisone shorts take the cake. I nearly jumped off the table. He had to almost hold me down to do the second on on the other area.
 
Olive said:
All needles seem to hurt me. But these cordisone shorts take the cake. I nearly jumped off the table. He had to almost hold me down to do the second on on the other area.
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I suspect you know the downsides to too much cortisone. Weakens the cartilage for starters. Many do end up with a lot of destruction from too much steroids.

And on the shingles, one needs to learn to reduce stress...let go of so much we can't change or control. Handling and changing our minds. Stress is the major issue I've read that triggers shingles.
 
jaminhealth said:
I suspect you know the downsides to too much cortisone. Weakens the cartilage for starters. Many do end up with a lot of destruction from too much steroids.

And on the shingles, one needs to learn to reduce stress...let go of so much we can't change or control. Handling and changing our minds. Stress is the major issue I've read that triggers shingles.
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I tried a cortisone shot to avoid hip replacement, but shot done nothing for me. Had the replacement done and darn glad I did.

Tried a cortisone shot for the Osteoarthritis in my left shoulder. Didn’t work again.

Sometimes stress just can’t be avoided, especially when living someplace (city-state) a person no longer likes and the lifestyle they like, but isn’t part of that city-state. Unfortunately, can’t move right away due to finances.
Stress also comes from upcoming medical procedures that are a must to get.
 
ClassicRockr said:
I tried a cortisone shot to avoid hip replacement, but shot done nothing for me. Had the replacement done and darn glad I did.

Tried a cortisone shot for the Osteoarthritis in my left shoulder. Didn’t work again.

Sometimes stress just can’t be avoided, especially when living someplace (city-state) a person no longer likes and the lifestyle they like, but isn’t part of that city-state. Unfortunately, can’t move right away due to finances.
Stress also comes from upcoming medical procedures that are a must to get.
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Oh stress can be everywhere...again learning to let go of what we can't change...so many are stressed with the political picture today, but I can't be bothered, I can't change a bloody thing..but wait until next election...everything changes, but much stays the same. It's how we handle it all.

Meditation works wonders with calming mind and body. It's free and simple and it works...keeping life simple works too to our betterment.
 
There are millions who don't get the shot and don't get shingles and there are those who get the shot, I guess. I don't know the number and who does, facts change every minute.

My parents lived into 90's never had shots and never had shingles. I compare my life a lot with their lives.
 
ClassicRockr said:
Absolutely true!!
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I would appreciate a link to that. From what I read it loses its effectiveness as you age.

While the vaccine was most effective in people 60 through 69 years old, it also provides some protection for people 70 years old and older.
Adults vaccinated before age 60 years might not be protected later in life when the risk for shingles and its complications are greatest.

Well I'm well over 69.
 
Camper6 said:
I would appreciate a link to that. From what I read it loses its effectiveness as you age.

While the vaccine was most effective in people 60 through 69 years old, it also provides some protection for people 70 years old and older.
Adults vaccinated before age 60 years might not be protected later in life when the risk for shingles and its complications are greatest.

Well I'm well over 69.
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Wife and I, her 70 and I’m now 69, were told by the pharmacist that the new shot is 90% effective against getting shingles and higher if the person has never had chicken pox.

We will go with that!
 
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