Can Shingles Affect Your Foot?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Diagnosis of shingles on foot which is presenting with pain, burning sensation, inability to walk, is often skipped. It should be kept in mind that there may be shingles on the foot in patients with such complaints.

Can shingles cause neuropathy of the feet?

Usually, peripheral neuropathy occurs in the feet and hands. Many other diseases and conditions can cause peripheral neuropathy, for example, drugs, diabetes, shingles, kidney failure, and vitamin deficiency.

Can you get shingles on your legs and feet?

Shingles forms a rash or a collection of blisters on your skin due to a viral infection. While a shingles outbreak usually appears as a band across one side of your torso, it can appear anywhere on your body , including your leg and groin.

What does shingles on the foot look like?

What does Shingles Herpes Zoster look like? The first thing you should notice is a patch of red spots that develop on the skin, causing the skin around them to turn pink/red . After a while these will blister, and can fill with blood or pus. After this, the blisters will scab, and fall off over a period of 2-3 weeks.

How do you treat shingles on the foot?

Treatment: Rash Relief

Over-the-counter pain relievers and anti-itch lotions , such as calamine, can help relieve the pain and itching of the shingles rash. If the pain is severe or the rash is concentrated near an eye or ear, consult your doctor right away.

Can shingles cause numbness in your feet?

Typically, shingles only affects a small part of one side of your body, which can include the hands, arms, legs, and feet. You may feel a tingling or numbness in the affected area.

Can you have foot neuropathy without diabetes?

Millions of people suffer from the effects of non-diabetic peripheral neuropathy on a daily basis. Peripheral neuropathy refers to the dysfunction of the nerves in areas of the body, not including the brain and spine.

What happens if you let shingles go untreated?

If left untreated, some complications of shingles can be fatal. Pneumonia, encephalitis, stroke, and bacterial infections can cause your body to go into shock or sepsis.

What can be mistaken for shingles?

Shingles can sometimes be mistaken for another skin conditions, such as hives, psoriasis, or eczema . Share on Pinterest A doctor should always be consulted if shingles is suspected. The characteristics of a rash may help doctors identify the cause. For example, hives are often raised and look like welts.

What should I do if I have shingles?

  1. Anticonvulsant medicines like gabapentin (Neurontin)
  2. Antidepressants like amitriptyline.
  3. Colloidal oatmeal baths.
  4. Cool compresses.
  5. Medicated lotion.
  6. Numbing medications like lidocaine.
  7. Over-the-counter drugs like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
  8. Prescription painkillers like codeine.

Are bananas good for shingles?

Stress-balancing Bs are vital to a shingles diet since the virus tinkers with nerve endings causing severe pain. Get cracking with eggs of all manners, along with milk and chicken, packed with B12s, while bananas, brewer’s yeast and potatoes have an abundance of calming B6s .

What does mild shingles look like?

The generalized signs and symptoms in the body may include:

Raised red rash which usually appears a few days after the pain. Multiple blisters which appear in a stripe pattern. The blisters contain fluid and they break open with crusting. Fever, chills, fatigue, and body ache.

What does early stages of shingles look like?

Early symptoms of shingles may include fever and general weakness . You may also feel areas of pain, burning, or a tingling sensation. A few days later, the first signs of a rash appear. You may begin to notice pink or red blotchy patches on one side of your body.

What are the final stages of shingles?

  • The stages of shingles are tingling pain, followed by a burning feeling and a red rash, then blistering, and finally the blisters will crust over.
  • You will typically develop a rash about 1-5 days after you feel numbness or tingling pain.

Is it too late to treat shingles?

It is important to see a doctor as soon as a person notices the symptoms of shingles. The National Institute on Aging recommend that people seek medical treatment no later than 3 days after the rash appears . Early treatment can limit pain, help the rash heal quicker, and may reduce scarring.

Can you be hospitalized for shingles?

Approximately 1 to 4% of people who get shingles are hospitalized for complications . Older adults and people with weakened or suppressed immune system are more likely to be hospitalized. About 30% of people hospitalized for shingles have a weakened or suppressed immune system.

Rebecca Patel
Author
Rebecca Patel
Rebecca is a beauty and style expert with over 10 years of experience in the industry. She is a licensed esthetician and has worked with top brands in the beauty industry. Rebecca is passionate about helping people feel confident and beautiful in their own skin, and she uses her expertise to create informative and helpful content that educates readers on the latest trends and techniques in the beauty world.