Hi what's up with this under the rib cage stabbing throbbing pain that comes on throughout the day at random times. it hits hard like a knife inside. Shingles just started 5 days ago. Wasn't confirmed as such until 2 days ago. Started meds after second day of being diagnosed. Antiviral, prednisone and neurontin. Just got stabbing pain around knee hurts like a@&@@.. What's going on? i thought shingles was nerve pain associated with blisters. My blister sites are minimal and just burn and itch like a bad sun burn. What is all this other random shooting pain? How important is it that I drug myself with 900 mill of neurontin? I have 3 kids and work as a court reporter. I can't be loopy in court. I am presently 125 pounds and have always been sensitive to meds. Doesn't take much for me to feel the effects. I think I would be practically comatosed if I take 3 100mill 3 times a day of neurontin. Doctor told me to take neurontin 2 100mill 3 times a day if pain wasn't too severe but even that is a lot. Is the neurontin in higher doses to calm the pain temporarily or is it to prevent future damage to nerves and any future permanent nerve damage? Hoping for some relief? If you can help answer I would appreciate it. I want to get back into my working out. I feel like I can do it even through these strange pains but could working out cause further symptoms with shingles?