Had the shingles 3 times now and hope to never get them again--- the doctor who said it wasn't painful must be a fool. It hurts and itches a lot, very painful. No vaccine for me because of another condition I have. Keep praying I won't ever get them again. My daughter had them when she was 11 and I remember how many days she spent in tears from the pain-- she had them from the right side of her forehead down to her waist.
Redbird could you be having post shingles pain, it's very painful, neuralgic nerve pain from damaged nerves when you did have shingles.