The skin may also become discolored where the rash once was. The rash and pain of shingles usually occur on either the trunk, back, chest, head, face, lower part of the spine or neck. Yes, but this is rare. It is called zoster sine herpete. The shingles rash may also go unnoticed.
Shingles typically starts out without the rash.
The patient may experience burning or shooting pain, numbness, tingling, itching, headache, fever, chills and nausea. While the rash almost always follows, it may be disregarded or mistaken for something else. Currently, shingles itself cannot be prevented. However, the chickenpox vaccine, which was approved by the FDA in 1995, prevents chickenpox and, therefore, decreases the likelihood that a vaccinated individual will later develop shingles. A similar vaccine is being studied as a possible prevention for shingles in adults who have had chickenpox.