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" Question I am recovering from shingles and still suffering from pain. I have a large swelling on the abdomen in the area most affected and one breast appears swollen too. I understand that this is typically associated with shingles, but wonder how long the swelling is likely to persist? Will it recede quickly when the other symptoms disappear or is it likely to be a slow process?   Answer Shingles (herpes zoster) is extremely painful and you have my sympathy. The pain is the result of the damage to the nerve. This is caused by the virus travelling along the nerve before appearing on the surface of the skin that the nerve supplies. On the skin surface herpes zoster causes inflammation, redness and clumps of blisters (vesicles). These form scabs as the condition progresses.  With healing, the scabs fall off, sometimes leaving some scarring. The length of time for the symptoms to subside varies with the severity of the infection.  As the scabs heal and separate the associated inflammation and swelling settles. I am concerned by your description of two separate sites of swelling and by the absence in your description of any mention of vesicles or blisters. It is possible for shingles to affect two nerves simultaneously, but it is rare. For this reason I think you would be wise to check your progress with your GP asking specifically about the two separate areas of swelling.  Because it sounds as though your case is atypical, I&amp;#039;m not able to give you a precise indication of how long your symptoms will last, but this is something you can discuss with your GP at your appointment. I hope things settle quickly. Yours sincerely The NetDoctor Medical Team   Other Qs &amp;amp; As How do you catch shingles? How long will it take me to recover from shingles? I&amp;#039;ve got shingles &amp;amp;#8211; am I infectious? Shingles, chickenpox and pregnancy Sunbathing after shingles What can I do about my recurrence of shingles? Will my shingles scars ever go?   Last updated 04.02.2015 "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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