Pain that feels like “a crawling on the skin”: Anne's patient story

My name is Anne and I am an architect, which can be hard work and requires lots of concentration, but I find it really rewarding. I suffer from hypertension and receive treatment which seems to control things pretty well. About a year ago I had a bout of shingles, but three months after this I was also diagnosed with post-herpetic neuralgia.

This left a specific area very painful on my back; my skin was on fire like a hot poker or needles and I was unable to have my skin touched. The pain was so severe and it felt like a spider crawling on my skin which I could not stand anymore. My doctor prescribed medication that made me feel drowsy and like I was suffering from a hangover. In addition, I was tired due to lack of sleep.

Although the affected area seems to have become smaller, it still causes me a lot of problems, particularly as it makes wearing a bra very painful. The pain and the effects of my treatment interfere with my ability to concentrate, and this affects my work.

Maybe it's being 50, but I find myself increasingly impatient about medical matters and I don't know why I can't seem to find a treatment that suits me and my condition.

If you share Anne's frustrations about your own situation, take the my pain questionnaire to help ensure you are receiving the right treatment for your pain condition.