Is shingles always painful?

Shingles is usually painful; pain is one of the most common symptoms of the disease and is usually the first symptom, notes Mayo Clinic. Shingles can sometimes be so painful that doctors worry about lung, kidney or heart problems.

Some patients may experience extreme pain without the presence or development of the shingles rash. The shingles rash typically occurs on one side of the body in a strip and forms blisters that scab, according to WebMD. Other symptoms of shingles include sensitivity to light, tingling, itching, headaches and flu-like symptoms, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Shingles is most common in older patients, but a vaccine is available to guard against the disease.