Maybe it depends on where the shingles is on your body. I have a friend who had it on her back and she said that it wasn't painful but itchy. Mine was on my right hip, along my waistline and down my right leg. It caused the neuropathy that I'm now on meds for. It was quite painful and when I had it, it's the only time that I ever called off work. I couldn't get comfortable, couldn't sleep, so there was no way I could work.
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