I knew that my body needed a break. I didn’t know it would literally force me into inaction for most of my holiday!
Disclaimer: This article is a recollection of my own experience and is not designed to diagnose or treat any medical conditions. If you are experiencing pain or discomfort, it is advisable to seek help from a medical professional.
Shingles: Definitely not how I had planned to spend my December break
Just before the holidays, I unfortunately had to cancel 2 of my Pilates classes on short notice because I was experiencing shooting pain in my hip, from what I first believed was a pinched nerve. Prior to this, I had powered through some of my sessions with this pain, noticing that I mainly experienced the pain when I was performing exercises where I was lying on my back. (So, most of Pilates.)
I still took part in a dancing show and Aerial Silks classes, so I figured the pain couldn’t be that bad, right?! But I started to notice that, although standing, walking and regular activities were possible, the pain was excruciating when I was sitting or lying down, and was even worse at night.
At least this didn’t hurt! Although I had been experiencing intense pain, it didn’t show up while I was performing regular activities, so I thought it couldn’t be that bad.
Photo taken at The Cirk. Photographer: Vivian Danielle Coetzer, Bloom Photography
Do you know those pain charts that they have in doctors’ rooms? The ones that show little faces with varying degrees of pain? I went through ALL of those expressions! At various intervals.
Shingles. The experience can be described as an indecisive pain chart.
Image source: healthline.com
After numerous trips to doctors, various levels of pain medication, and even a Covid test (negative!), there was no definite diagnosis yet and I was basically waiting it out to see what happened next. This, fellow fitness friends, was not my ideal course of action, and I kept paying attention to what my body was trying to tell me.
I then noticed a red spot or 2, or 3, that started to form in the same areas as the pain. So, I went back to the doctor, and finally a diagnosis was reached: I had Shingles!
Since this took place right over Christmas, I had no choice but to sing “Shingles Bells, Shingles Bells, Shingles allll the waaaay!”. 😉
Quick Shingles facts:
- Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes Chickenpox.
- Someone with Shingles cannot give Shingles to someone else.
- If you’ve had Chickenpox, the virus lies dormant in the nerves near your spinal cord, and can reactivate as Shingles. It’s unknown what causes this reactivation, but it’s believed that stress or a compromised immune system can trigger this.
- Someone with Shingles can spread Chickenpox to a person who has not had Chickenpox, but this is only through direct contact with the Shingles rash.
- 1 in 3 persons gets Shingles.
- A Shingles vaccine is available, and is generally only given to persons over 50 due to the more serious effects of the virus in older persons.
Having received the right diagnosis meant that I now had the right meds, but unfortunately it wasn’t over yet. The pain got even worse, especially at night. For a few days, my sleep was short (2-3 hours), and mostly replaced (yes, replaced) with walking and exercise, and exhaustion. Although it may sound like I was going on a midnight stroll, it was more along the lines of a zombie pacing up and down a corridor, moans and groans included.
This photo was taken in the heat of the South African summer, and shorts and a tank top would’ve been my preferred attire. With Shingles, sun was not kind to me, but walking was. Although I had to avoid sun exposure at all costs, I was grateful to still be able to take regular walks to ease the discomfort caused by Shingles.
Although the medication I had received had stopped the rash in its tracks, the virus was still coursing through the nerve paths, bringing with it agonising pain. After yet another dose of meds to help the nerve issues (and a few more days for these to fully kick in), I finally had a good night’s rest, and relief from the pain.
There were definitely some interesting things I learnt about my own body during this journey, and postural corrections that I need to incorporate into my daily life. You can read more about my full Shingles experience by clicking here.
So, what caused Shingles in the first place? Honestly, we’re not entirely sure. But since the problem originated in my lower back, and the pain was at its worst whilst I was sitting, I have further shifted my focus to the importance of correct spinal alignment and posture.
What is hindering YOUR body and how can I help YOU? Let’s chat! Book a private session or self-assessment, or contact me for a FREE 15-min chat.
