Pain

I've been pondering this question recently as i've got to the 8th week of shingles.
Pain seems to be on a scale from touch through tingle to itch to sore to pain to agony and unbearable.
I think there are "pain clinics" for those who are in the 'unbearable' group.
I find application of ice cancels out the worst pain.
So Luckygirl I see your point . But I think this discussion is going to lead to - there are some things that the medical profession has no answer for.

I'd take the Paracetamol regularly, not as and when, the maximum dose of 2 tablets 4 times a day; plus Ibuprofen if you're allowed that.

I recommended this on here a couple of days ago ,in case you didn't see it,try an Acti Patch my daughter had a good result with it when she had severe pain .Sadly in her case pain relief has a short life span so I thin it was around 4 months that it worked for .She has hyper joint mobility and fibromyalgia ,the other thing that really helped her was acupuncture ,but it was better with one practitioner than others .She's on about 17 pills a day now and praying for cannabis to be legalised for her conditions as she spends most of her life in bed .Not how a 40 something should be living .

Acti patch is availbale in chemists ad online ,I thinkk she got hers from amazon but they have their own website .Good luck ,I hope you find something that helps .

Could you ask for a referral to a pain management clinic Luckygirl?
They would possibly be able to help you more than your GP seems able to.