Shingles attacks you directly at the nerves too...that's why you have such pain. The rash follows along the tracks of your nerves. Take the percosetts...they're fine. Or vicodin if you can't get perc's. I had it from my neck down my shoulder. It lasted about 3 weeks for the rash....2 weeks of bad pain, but the pain lingered less severely for another 2 or 3 weeks. You can uses some bactroban for the rash to prevent infections.
Shingles suck big moose dick.