Shingles: Early Symptoms

The earliest symptoms of shingles are called the prodromal stage. This occurs prior to the appearance of the rash. This stage usually begins with stinging, burning, pain, or numbness in the area where the rash will appear. The sensations can appear days or even weeks before the rash. As with the rash, the location of pain is the chest, back, abdomen, face, one arm or leg. Just before the rash appears, flu like symptoms can develop including, headaches, stomachaches, nausea, diarrhea, and chills withour fever. These symptoms indicate that the virus has emerged from its "sleep" and is "on the move".