
Itchy Rash Just The Right Of Spine. Applied Corticosteroid Ointment, No Improvement. What Could Be This?

Your question is a very good one and I will work on providing you with some information and recommendations.
It can sometimes be difficult to differentiate between contact dermatitis and early shingles. I think at this point due to the fact that you have not responded to both topical and oral steroids and the area you have described is now becoming painful that we need to change the course of your treatment towards that which addresses a case of shingles.
The Medrol actually would be part of the treatment of shingles in some cases. We use steroids in addition to antiviral medications to help lessen the severity of the pain that is associated with the shingles. At this point I would recommend treatment with Valtrex.
The recommended dose for Valtrex is 1000 mg every eight hours for seven days. I would recommend that you see the nurse again or contact your symptoms but it will generally shorten the duration of the illness and hopefully minimize the likelihood that you'll have any long-term issues with pain.
Thanks again for submitting your question. I hope you have found my response to be helpful and informative. If you have additional concerns I would be happy to address those.
Sincerely,
Dr Robert


Thanks again for submitting your question.
Dr. Galamaga

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