Viola Davis Details Debilitating Shingles Pain

Viola Davis has shared her experience with shingles, a painful viral infection that caused her significant distress. The EGOT winner described the pain as a "nine out of 10," making basic activities like lying down, getting up, and walking extremely difficult.

Davis first experienced symptoms in early 2012, a period marked by personal milestones including the adoption of her daughter and an Oscar nomination. She recalled waking up with flu-like symptoms and a rash that initially appeared on her stomach, extending to her back. The rash later reappeared with blisters on her upper back.

Initially, Davis thought she might have been bitten by a poisonous creature due to the sudden and severe pain. Upon receiving a diagnosis of shingles, she expressed surprise, stating she knew "absolutely nothing about shingles."

The disease is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. After an initial chickenpox infection, the virus remains dormant in the body and can reactivate later in life as shingles.

Shingles typically manifests as a painful rash, often appearing as a single stripe of blisters on one side of the body. Symptoms can include itching, sensitivity to touch, burning, tingling, and fluid-filled blisters that eventually crust over. Some individuals also experience fever, headache, and fatigue.

A potential complication of shingles is postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), a chronic nerve pain that can persist for months or years after the rash has healed. Adults over the age of 50 are at a higher risk of developing PHN. The condition can also lead to vision impairment if the rash affects the eye area or nerve damage if it involves the nerves near the ear.

While there is no cure for shingles, medical treatments can help speed healing and reduce the risk of complications. Davis emphasized that she had previously believed her healthy lifestyle made her immune to illness, only to be diagnosed with shingles.

To prevent shingles, a two-dose Shingrix vaccine is recommended for adults aged 50 and older, as well as for those with weakened immune systems. The vaccine has demonstrated over 90% effectiveness in preventing shingles and PHN.

Davis stated that her experience with shingles served as a wake-up call, prompting her to listen to her body. She now encourages others to prioritize their health and seek medical attention when experiencing concerning symptoms, asserting that debilitating pain should not be a part of life.