Could I possibly have shingles?

I have these sensations on the skin covering my ribcage, only on the left side and it is an area about 6 inches long and 3 inches wide. Sometimes I feel as though my skin is crawling, at other times when my shirt or blouse touches this area, it is very painful. Throughout the day I feel like I am being stabbed, but I feel it only on the skin, not like pain on the insdie of my body. Its is not bone or muscle that has these sensations. When I lift my shirt there are no signs of anything on my skin, no blisters, bites or lesions. I have heard that a person can have shingles without the blistering. I am also wondering if these weird sensations are just stress related. I talked to a nurse friend of mine and she had no clue and told me to go to a doctor. I don't feel sick. these sensations are the only symptoms I have. I'm wondering if anyone out there has experienced anything similiar to my symptoms.