Can Shingles Cause Back Pain in the Shoulder Blades?
The term “shingles” refers to a condition caused by the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chicken pox disease. After a person has had the chicken pox, the virus remains dormant, residing in nerve cells. Later on, as a result of many different factors, the virus may reactivate and leave the nerve cell and this is what causes herpes zoster, or shingles. Reactivation usually occurs as a result of immune function abnormalities. Age, the presence of disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, or the use of immunosuppressive drugs all are risk factors. Symptoms of shingles consist of an early prodrome or “time before the storm”. A patient will experience flu-like symptoms, headache, and possibly a low grade fever and chills. Shortly thereafter, the patient will notice an itching, burning, uncomfortable sensation. This discomfort usually takes place on the chest or back, but it may also occur on the abdomen, head, face, neck, or an arm or leg. Swelling of the lymph nodes near the a
