From Rash to Recovery
Most people associate shingles with intense nerve pain, weeks of discomfort, and a long recovery. While every case is different, early recognition and appropriate medical care are important. For one Sara’s Garden nurse, combining conventional treatment with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) led to a recovery that exceeded her expectations.
Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox—the varicella-zoster virus. After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus remains dormant in the body’s nerve tissue and can reactivate years or even decades later. The condition typically begins with tingling, burning, or itching, followed by a painful rash with fluid-filled blisters that usually appears on one side of the body. Although shingles most commonly affects older adults and those with weakened immune systems, it can occur in otherwise healthy individuals as well.
Before developing shingles, Rebekah considered herself healthy and rarely needed to visit a doctor. On a Saturday evening, she noticed a small red rash on the left side of her chest, about the size of a quarter. The area was itchy and had developed a few small blisters. Along with the rash, she experienced mild flu-like symptoms, including nausea, body aches, and significant fatigue. Initially, she assumed it was simply a bug bite and treated it with an over-the-counter anti-itch cream.
By the following day, however, the rash had grown larger and her symptoms had worsened. Suspecting shingles, Rebekah went to an urgent care clinic where the diagnosis was confirmed. She was prescribed the antiviral medication Acyclovir. Although antiviral medications are most effective when started within the first 72 hours after symptoms appear, her physician explained that the medication might provide limited benefit because the virus had likely progressed beyond its most responsive stage. She was also told to expect the illness to last at least two weeks.
As a nurse at Sara’s Garden, Rebekah was already familiar with the specialized, comprehensive client services available through the center. Her supervisor encouraged her to begin Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy as soon as possible. HBOT increases the amount of oxygen delivered throughout the body by having clients breathe 100% oxygen inside a pressurized chamber. The therapy has been shown to support many different conditions and injuries, including wound healing, inflammation, and tissue repair. While HBOT is not a standard treatment for shingles itself here in the United States, some clients and providers have explored its use as a adjunctive treatment to help the body heal.
Rebekah noticed encouraging changes within just 24 hours of beginning treatment. The redness around the rash had diminished, and the blisters had already begun to shrink. She completed a total of six HBOT sessions over nine days, carefully monitoring her progress throughout the treatment period.
By the completion of her sixth treatment, the improvement was remarkable. The itching had resolved, the swelling was gone, and only minimal redness and blistering remained. Perhaps the most significant benefit, according to Rebekah, was how quickly the shingles resolved. Her illness lasted less than the minimum two-week course she had initially been told to expect.
One aspect of Rebekah’s experience stood out even more. Unlike many people who develop shingles, she never experienced the severe nerve pain commonly associated with the condition. Shingles pain can sometimes persist for months after the rash heals, a complication known as postherpetic neuralgia. Fortunately, Rebekah did not develop this painful complication, and she was able to return to feeling like herself much sooner than anticipated.
Looking back, Rebekah says the greatest benefit of incorporating Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy into her care was the shortened recovery time. When she showed family members before-and-after photos of the affected area, they were amazed by how quickly it had healed. While every individual’s experience with shingles is unique and treatment outcomes can vary, Rebekah is grateful for the care she received and says she would not hesitate to choose HBOT again if she were ever to face shingles in the future.
No matter what you’ve been told, there is hope… for this and many other conditions. HBOT is treatment without drugs… without surgery… without pain.
