Shingles isn’t just a minor rash – it’s extremely painful and can cause long-term nerve damage while severely impacting your quality of life.
Wales: Ann Garner, 73, learned the hard truth about shingles in 2024. Before getting it, she thought it was a “mild” illness. But shingles (herpes zoster) is actually a common viral infection that causes a very painful skin rash.
People in Norway call shingles “helvetesild,” which means “hell’s fire.” The Arabic name translates to “belt of fire.” These names make more sense once you understand what happens. One in three people will get shingles in their lifetime, especially after age 50.
The virus that causes shingles is the same one that causes chickenpox. It can stay asleep in your body for years before waking up. When it reactivates, often due to aging, stress, or a weak immune system, it creates the shingles rash. Ann felt tingling above her forehead one day that quickly turned into severe pain like “hot needles pricking” her face.
Doctors gave Ann special medicine called acyclovir that works best if taken within 72 hours. Even with medicine, her face got covered in red blisters and she felt tortured by burning pain. The pain can last for years and doctors call this post-herpetic neuralgia or PHN.
Research shows shingles affects people’s lives more than many realize. A study found people with shingles had 15 percent lower physical health scores and 13 percent lower mental health scores than normal. The condition can be serious enough to cause vision damage or blindness if it reaches the eye.