Been there, done that. Yes, they are very painful. The worst pain I have ever had in my life. If you are diagnosed as having them have your doctor prescribe a high test, industrial strength pain reliever. You'll need it.

For those who do not know, they are caused by the same virus as chicken pox. The chicken pox virus never leaves the body, but goes dormant for years, decades even. During this time it goes thru a matamorphosis, like a caperpillar changing into a butterfly, and causes shingles, usually in late middle age or old age. So anyone who had chicken pox as a young person (which is most people), has a little time bomb in his body waiting to go off as shingles.

Luckily I haven't had them. I understand they are very painful. If you have them, I wish you well.