Because my partner was on antibiotics he was unable to have the shingles vaccine as soon as he was eligible at 79. 2 weeks later (the week before Christmas)he contracted shingles all over the left side of his chest and his back. He was admitted to hospital 30th December with pneumonia and sepsis where he had to stay for 5 weeks. He came home for a week then was back in for a further 6 days. All this time he has been suffering the most dreadful shingles pain. He has been on morphine and every sort of controlled drug possible, which he is still taking, and he is still in absolute agony. Because of his COPD he is on oxygen 24x7, can barely take a step because of his breathlessness, yet he says the post shingles nerve pain is the worst of all his suffering. I just pray that in time the pain will ease up. I bought a Tens machine, hoping to give that a try, but it said on the instructions you must not use it on the chest. Does anyone know of anything that can help him? In the meantime I, as his carer, am not eligible for the vaccination as I am 75, so must wait until I am 79 to get it on the NHS. My own Doctor won't even give it to me if I pay so I am having to go to a private clinic and pay £190 for the vaccination. I would urge everyone to have the vaccination when they can as it is the most agonising and debilitating disease I have ever witnessed.