severe back pain

[mommy01001]

I have been suffering almost daily for a year and a half with severe low back pain along with other crazy symptoms.  I have been to every type of specialist, had medications, injections, mri, CT scans, bone scan and noone could find a cause of my back pain.  I finally asked my physician if i could go to and infectious disease doctor.  He made the referral.  I was in the office less than 45minutes and never told her my diagnosis.  With all of the symptoms i explained to her,  she suggested it being a herpes virus.  that was when i thought to tell her that.  So she is starting me on daily valtrex forever to see if it helps.  Anyone else ever have anything like this happen?  How long would you say it would take the valtrex to start helping?

[Hsv1sufferer]

I have herpes for 10 months. Serious backpain everyday, the pain happens along the spine and the shoulder muscles. The pain also affect my enery level. I felt weak everyday. I have 5 OBs after the first one, the recurring OB, no lesions, but constant itching at my private area and body pain for at least two weeks. I am sure all these pain and itching are due to herpes. Before catching this virus, I was a happy energetic person. I know there is no solution to my problems. Now I just exercise more and do other things to get my mind off the pain.

[AndreaB1989]

I have severe pelvic pain while I have an outbreak. I'm also in valtrex and I still usually have an outbreak once a month mainly from stress. My urologist told me that the herpea virus when having am outbreak actually can attach to the nerve on ye pelvic region and cause pelvic or back pain.

[suzilipz]

I have had herpes for years.  Only a few outbreaks but when I do I get horrible backache headache body ache and swollen groin lymph nodes

[suzilipz]

Does anyone else get swollen sore lymph nodes during episodes?  I get all the symptoms with no visible outbreaks but usually a will develop hemmoriods at the same time. Possible outbreak around the Anus but hard to  differentiate between the two. Feel achy all over, back hurts legs hurt feel like I've been run over. White count slightly elevated as well. Any correlation others may have experienced?

[SusiePT]

I can't believe this. Other people are confirming what I thought intuitively but that the doctors don't seem to understand or agree with.
I have been suffering with herpes very rarely for many years but recently I had severe back pain, severe pins and needles sensation and numbness in both feet. About two days after I started having my back symptoms I had two herpes lesions simultaneously on my buttocks.
In the past I have had some very minimal symptoms when the lesion began but it's never been debilitating to the point of having to be off of work for six weeks.
I have had five lesions within seven weeks which is a significant change of condition for me. I just started taking into the antiviral Acyclovir.
Thank you so much to everybody for their input and information. It feels very supportive to know that there other people out there with the same issue.
Susie

[maxim69]

Hi I first got diagnosed with herpes when I was a teenager now I am 47. I was having outbreaks regular sometimes weekly, Now I could get an outbreak yearly .I've learned and researched so much about this virus that I can keep it under control and yes one of the side affects is a backache and pains down your legs.
I will be happy to answer any questions and tell you what I do to keep reoccurring.

[heartbeet]

I have had herpes outbreaks about every six months for about 20 years. This time my lower back was so sore, tops of my butt cheeks I had to take tons of advil and stay in bed crying. This is the second day and I am still taking advil but am able to walk around the house. I figure this is nerve pain not muscle and that it is from the herpes outbreak I had last week. What do you think?

[Mkhulu]

Hi maxim69 how do you keep the outbreaks in check?I have outbreaks at least once every month. I take vitamin c supplements as well as lysine and zinc.

[EGXX]

I too have severe back pain and the physio theropy did not work but when I recently started an antiviral for Herpies 2 my back pain has really gotten less !!!!!!

[Seatlsonshine]

This sounds very similar to what I'm experiencing--I've Also been suspecting the virus for my pain--I'd be interested to know what else you've found out.  I know it is possible, because many  people keep saying it is, but I don't know if we can ever find out or not--I really think its because doctors just don't know...back pain is so hard to diagnose in any case.  I would recommend taking full doses of antivirals, long daily walks (as much as possible), eating healthy-(I'm doing an anti-inflammatory diet through a nutritionist)- and I've heard acupuncture can be a relief.  If you can find a really good hypnotherapist, this is also of great benefit.  Good luck--post any more information you find out!!

[mommy01001]

Its been going on for over a year and a half. It cycles thru at least once per month. I get swelling, joint pain, body aches, low-grade fevers sometimes high-grade fevers and always the severe back pain which at times travels into my pelvic area. The cycles last about a week and a half and then it's gone. Like I had said I have had MRIs, a bone scan, x-rays, ultrasounds,  two sets of spine injections. Ive been seen by neurology, rheumatology, a physiatrist, my GYN, endocrinology, a spine and sport doctor, and many many visits to my PCP. I tried so many drug trials last year it's not even funny copayments along I spent $1300 in just drug co-pays. And not one thing has helped. All of my labs have come back perfect all of my other studies have comeback perfect. So that's why ID wanted to try this route see if that's what's attacking my system.

[HowardH]

Longstanding herpes doesn't generally cause "systemic symptoms" of any kind. Do you want to post the details of your past positive blood test or the "systemic" symptoms?

[mommy01001]

She is a new doctor for me and i hadnt told her that i did have a positive bloodtest in the past. She told me that i have had such an indepth workup that she felt that would be one of the last options. Because there are other systemic symptoms that go with it. So i am hoping in the next few days i see some type of relief.

[HowardH]

Back pain can accompany genital herpes outbreaks, but even this is rare. HSV is not a known cause of chronic, ongoing back pain.

What do you mean by "never told her my diagnosis"? Do you have genital herpes? Or a positive HSV blood test?

Even if you do, I doubt Valtrex will make any difference in your back pain. Probably the ID doc prescribed it hopefully but not really expecting it to help. If it's going to make a difference, it should do so within a few days -- but this is a question you should also ask her.