Do Shingles Always Have Rash Symptoms Or Can They Be Internal With No Rash On Top Of The Skin?

I am a 43 yr ol female with shingles. I have never had a rash,but the pain is horrible. It attacks the left side of my body everytime. This time it is on the left side of my face and head. Under my skin. I thought it was a migraine. But the dr diagnosed it as Shingles. I have had this since 2002. Hadn't had an outbreak in a few years, and never in my head! Hopefuly I will feel better soon.

Yes, it is rare, but you can experience the pain associated with shingles without a rash showing up. As I say, this rarely happens although it could be that your rash hasn't shown up yet? It can take up to 2-3 days for a rash to appear after you have felt the early stages of the pain.

If you suspect you have shingles, see your doctor. Especially in the case of people with poor immune systems, shingles can reak havoc, so as I say, even more of a reason to see your doctor immediately.

Yes, I only had a very small rash, but I hurt all underneath my skin and it hurt to touch or wear clothing. I felt as if though I had the flu, very painful and aggravating.

You do not always get a rash/blisters with shingles. This is the textbook description. I have had shingles twice without the rash and now suffer from post herpectic neuralgia (the long lasting complications that sometimes occur from shingles).

I've had shingles, under the skin, or in the skin. I only got one tiny spot that showed up on the outer part of my skin on my ribs but I itched all over both sides of my ribs, stomach and my chest. Apparently that's the most common place to itch because there are so many nerve endings in that area. I had those symptoms for about 7 days before I went to a dermatologist and was diagnosed and put on medication...

Usually they do have skin symptoms, but they don't have to. It could also be nerve damage from a previous round of symptoms. I had shingles for close to a year and now, eight years later, I still have nerve symptoms, especially when I'm highly stressed. I hope that answers your question.

One of the results of having shingles is the fact you can have them inside you. They can cause itching, pain, and a rash. It doesn't mean you will get a rash because once you have had shingles it takes about a year for the effects to go away. You should consider the shot they now have for shingles. It is expensive but I have heard from patients who have had shingles say it was the best investment they ever made.

I have one spot on my left shoulder and the pain is exactly the same as the pain I had when I had shingles with a rash.

I had severe mid back pain all night on Tuesday and went to the ER on Wed. Am.  They took blood tests etc. But found no reason for the pain.  The doctor in ER told me he suspects internal shingles ( which I had never heard of before).  He gave me some pain med and a script for shingles if it should break out with a rash.  I have been dealing with it for past couple of days.  Last night the pain moved to my kidneys---today it's back up by rib cage.  I went to my local doctor today and she said she had never heard of it and thought I maybe have nihi just because I had a slight fever and sore throat with it.  I told her that sore throat and fever was associated with it and she kind of laughed at me and said don't pay any attention to the computer.