Looking for information on medicinal marjuana use for help with pain caused by shingles. My grandmother has only state sponsored health care and is 86 years old. They will not give her another perscription for Lortab (they aren't helping that much any way) and the Prednisone they gave her makes her very sick to her stomach and dizzy (not good for an 86 year old). We can't get her into the clinic for a follow up until July 24th. I was told that marijuana can help with the pain. I am hoping someone can tell me if it worked for them and if there are any side effects they experienced. My grandmother is not sure she even wants to try it so I told her I would look into it for her. Any info would be helpful.

I had shingles and I took Advil, sometimes twice a day whenever the pain would start. Later on the pain ocurred less often so I needed it less and less until it was finally gone. I avoid drugs if there is another way to ease the pain. It worked for me. It was gone in three weeks. Sometimes it can last for months so I consider myself lucky to have gotten rid of it so soon. Please don't put her on marijuana. Good luck! Hope it works for her too!

I never had shingles but a friend of mine just had them. She took an anti-viral prescription (name?). It made her sick but cured the shingles. She also took oil of oregano which she says helped a lot.

There are lidocaine patches availiable that she can use to cover the affected area.These were actually invented by a husband for his wife to help with her shingles pain.They do require an Rx from a doc and a rather big drawback, if you do not have insurance coverage for Rxs is they are pretty spendy.But there is also a lidocaine gel that comes in a tube that is quite a bit cheaper.It is not quite as effective as the actual patch, but it really will help bring at least some relief.She should give either one a try.I am sure that they can help at least some.I suffer with central pain syndrome due to a spinal cord injury.The pain is very much like that of shingles,only multiplied times about five.OWIE!!The lido products are about the only thing that give me any relief at all these days.I know the pain from shingles can become quite severe at times.i hope she can get rid of this soon.FB

Hi,

I've had three bouts of shingles some years ago. First time I had no idea, just at work and my back was hurting something fierce. Doc prescribed Zivorax which is an anti-viral meds, which several capsules were taken about 5 times a day, plus he gave me flexeril to relax the muscles that tensed with the pain. Not only did it help clear it up quicker but my other bouts were less severe.

Someone mentioned idoderm patches. Great pain relief with those, but not sure I'd want to cover the blisters of shingles and have to pull that off later.

You have probably read and know that shingles are inflammed nerve endings caused by the fact that our bodies held onto a bit of the chickenpox virus when we had it in our youth. It was shocking to me, as it had been more than 40 years since I had chickenpox, but sure glad that the medication really helped and I could still work.

Best wishes that your grandmother recovers quickly.