I don't remember exactly when it was, but it must have been the first week of the new year. I felt a muscle knot starting from the center of my spine and moving down to the right. I couldn't sleep properly at night, and over the weekend, a band of hives appeared along the painful area, and blisters formed. These wouldn't go away. When I visited the hospital, the doctor suggested I go to a larger hospital, but when I showed him the hives, he diagnosed me with shingles. I was so worried and anxious that I was finally diagnosed, which was a relief, but that was when the pain began. Still, I'm glad I went to the hospital soon after the rash appeared and got a proper diagnosis. Now, the pain, rash, and paralysis symptoms have all significantly decreased and are improving.