it is the chicken pox virus that lives in your nerves and THAT is what causes shingles at a later date.
yes, Herpes Zoster aka Chicken Pox, reactivated in later life (age, weakened immune system), Voila!, shingles, that can recur in some people......and considering most all adults over the age of 45-50 have had chicken pox, are at risk for shingles later. Some even claim to have never had chicken pox as a child, yet come down with shingles when older, apparently they had a mild case as a child and it probably went unnoticed .
Our Dr told us that he recommends ALL his 'mature' patients have the shingles shot, as the likelyhood of 50 years old or better not having chicken pox is rare, why take the chance?
For the patients that claim to have never had Chicken Pox he recommends they have a chicken pox vaccine and a shingles vaccine anyway! He is a great Dr.
I do hope the pain relieves soon. I know it is a miserable condition