How painful are shingles on a scale of 1 to 10?

Asked by: Edison Reynolds  |  Last update: October 14, 2025
Score: 5/5 (40 votes)

“Shingles is extremely painful," Wigand-Bolling said. “On a scale from one to 10, most patients will say the pain ranges from six to 10.” Between 1 and 5 days after the first symptoms occur, a rash will develop in the affected area.

What is shingles pain equivalent to?

For some people, the pain can be intense. Depending on the location of the pain, it can sometimes be mistaken for problems with the heart, lungs or kidneys. Some people experience shingles pain without ever developing the rash.

What is the most painful place to get shingles?

Shingles pain can be mild or intense. Some people have mostly itching; some feel pain from the gentlest touch or breeze. The most common location for shingles is a band, called a dermatome, spanning one side of the trunk around the waistline.

Is shingles one of the worst pains?

Herpes zoster or shingles

It may be reactivated on occasion, to cause shingles in some people. It is among the most painful conditions known. Age and weakened immunity predispose to activation.

Is shingles pain worse than childbirth?

Did you know that the shingles rash is said to be more painful than giving birth? Yes, shingles is that painful! If you or your loved one are above the age of 50 - you might be at risk.

Do I have Shingles? Symptoms & Treatments - Ask A Nurse | @LevelUpRN

33 related questions found

What is unbearable pain with shingles?

The nerve pain created by shingles can be very severe and can persist even after all the lesions have disappeared. The pain can be burning, sharp or stabbing and can worsen with even the lightest touch. When the pain lasts for more than four months, the diagnosis is termed post-herpetic neuralgia.

What hurts more than giving birth?

Kidney stones deliver sharp, pinpoint discomfort, while childbirth pain is a more diffuse, all-encompassing sensation. It's vital to grasp that pain is an entirely personal journey, with each individual's perception and tolerance painting a unique picture.

What are the top 3 most painful things?

Shingles – a painful rash caused by the varicella-zoster virus. Cluster headaches – sudden and excruciating headaches that center around the eye. Frozen shoulder – a degenerative disease of the shoulder joint that can make it nearly impossible to lift one's arm, with constant aches and pains in the area. Broken bones.

Why can't you shower with shingles?

Hot water increases blood flow, which can worsen shingles; therefore, a hot shower should be avoided. Towels should be immediately washed to avoid spreading the virus.

How intense is pain from shingles?

Most people with shingles experience a localised band of pain in the affected area. The pain may be a constant, dull or burning sensation and its intensity can vary from mild to severe. You may have sharp stabbing pains from time to time, and the affected area of skin will usually be tender.

What is the pain scale for shingles?

Pain of Symptoms

These lesions cause pain that many medical professionals label as severe. When asked to rate their pain using the 0 to 10 pain scale, 0 being no pain at all and 10 being the worst pain imaginable, most shingles patients express that their pain is somewhere between a 6 and a 10.

What are the worst days of shingles?

The most painful phase of shingles is usually 4-5 days after shingles symptoms first develop, when the red rash form painful blisters filled with fluid.

What is the best painkiller for shingles?

Doctors have a variety of choices to treat shingles pain. Medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen are often used. More severe cases might call for use of Tylenol with codeine or oxycodone.

What not to do when you have shingles?

Try not to scratch or pick at the blisters. Keep the blisters moist until they heal over. One way to do this is to cover them with a thin layer of petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, and a non-stick bandage.

Is shingles caused by stress?

Why stress increases the risk of shingles. “Stress can increase your risk of developing shingles,” Dr. Thaker says. “A severe amount of stress can weaken the immune system, which can allow the virus to reactivate.”

What should you not drink with shingles?

Generally, it's best to avoid alcohol during shingles treatment.

Can shingles live on bedding?

Shingles can spread when a person comes into contact with fluid contained in the rash blisters. The virus can spread by direct contact with the lesions or by touching any dressings, sheets or clothes soiled with discharge from the spots.

Why is shingles so bad at night?

Shingles pain may get worse at night. This is because at night the body temperature fluctuates and reduces a bit. Damaged nerves might interpret the temperature change as pain or tingling, which can increase the pain.

What's the worst pain a human can feel?

The full list, in no particular order, is as follows:
  • Appendicitis.
  • Trigeminal neuralgia.
  • Acute pancreatitis.
  • Gout.
  • Endometriosis.
  • Stomach ulcer.
  • Fibromyalgia.
  • Pain after surgery.

What pain is worse than childbirth?

Endometriosis: A majorly underdiagnosed condition leaving women experiencing pain “worse than childbirth” Endometriosis is a chronic gynecological condition that affects 1 in 10 women of reproductive age worldwide [1]. It can manifest with the first menstruation and last until menopause.

What is the most painful condition known to man?

CRPS is not a short-term pain that will heal in time. The most excruciating part is that the pain is long-term, and likely to be for life. In fact, CRPS is known as the world's most painful incurable condition.

How many bones break during birth?

Bone fractures during delivery are relatively rare, with an incidence of only 1 in 1,000 births. Among common birth injuries, the clavicle is the most frequently fractured bone, accounting for 45.7% of cases. The humerus, femur, and skull are the next three most commonly injured bones at birth.

What is the closest pain to childbirth for a man?

What makes kidney stones so painful is that they block the flow of urine from the kidney. When urine gets backed up, it can create waves of pain and cramping in a similar effect to labor contractions. That brings us to a bigger myth about kidney stones: Only older men get them.

Can you feel a baby coming out with an epidural?

However, like with all other things regarding pregnancy and childbirth, how well you're able to feel baby coming out depends on your individual factors, such as how the epidural affected you and where it was placed. “In the end, some people can feel their baby coming out, even if they have an epidural.