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Spinal Tap for HSV 1 & 2
I have been dealing with genital nerve pain for 1 year. All blood test are negative. I visited a Neuro Doc at the Mayo Clinic. The Doc says it is important for me to absolutely remove the idea of some underlying infection as the cause of this pain. She says a Spinal tap is a definitive way to prove there in no underlying infection as the cause of this pain. Question: Does the Spinal Tap show HSV if there is no active lesion? Will it show HSV if it is dormant?
Thank you
Thank you
Did you ever figure this out? I am experiencing something very similar and I am going on 2+ years with neuropathy.
7 Comments
What kind of testing have you had? There are loads of things that cause neuropathy that I'd consider way before I'd think of an STD.
I’ve done just about everything. IGG, western blot, spinal tap, PCR (skin). I have done extensive blood testing including an I curve. I do have an issue with my B cells and I believe I have HSV 2 and it is evading my immune system. I know I was exposed to HSV 2 and all of this started right after.
Have you looked for anything other than an STD?
You apparently weren't exposed to HSV2. You've tested negative.
Neuropathy is most often caused by diabetes, but can be caused by injury, toxins, metabolic problems, medications, and many others. Infections can cause it, but there are others that I'd think of long before herpes.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14737-neuropathy#symptoms-and-causes
The Western Blot is 99.9% accurate. Between the IgG, WB, PCR - if you had herpes, you'd have found it.
It makes me really sad when I read stories like yours. You prolong your suffering by focusing only on STDs.
You apparently weren't exposed to HSV2. You've tested negative.
Neuropathy is most often caused by diabetes, but can be caused by injury, toxins, metabolic problems, medications, and many others. Infections can cause it, but there are others that I'd think of long before herpes.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14737-neuropathy#symptoms-and-causes
The Western Blot is 99.9% accurate. Between the IgG, WB, PCR - if you had herpes, you'd have found it.
It makes me really sad when I read stories like yours. You prolong your suffering by focusing only on STDs.
I appreciate your insights. Unfortunately testing is for antibodies. If your body does not produce any, IGG and the western blot are useless. It has been well documented that HSV strainds adapt and can avoid your immune system and are resistant to valtrex. There is a study that was done of corpse’s of random people that complained about neuropathy and they found 40% had HSV in their ganglia. This virus is so much more than what anyone understands. The unfortunate part is that this is simply viewed as an STD that is “just a skin condition “ so the medical community ignores it. If 40% of all of idiopathic neuropathy is HSV or at least considered, we might have better treatment. I’d love to hear what the OP has discovered over the past 9 years.
How many of those 40% had antibodies on IgG or WB tests? Also, herpes resides in the ganglia. It doesn't mean that herpes was causing their neuropathy.
I'm not saying you don't have herpes. I can't say that. I'm saying that the chances are really low, and in the meantime, you should look for other causes, or at least treat it as ideopathic to get some relief.
I'm not saying you don't have herpes. I can't say that. I'm saying that the chances are really low, and in the meantime, you should look for other causes, or at least treat it as ideopathic to get some relief.
I had over 15 doctors of every shape and form. From ID to immunologist to neurologist. They have tested me, literally for everything. My IM dr said “I don’t know what it is. It could be anything”. It’s highly likely it is something to do with my low white blood count and inconsistencies. My ex GF had HSV 2 and I had very typical symptoms 3 days after exposure, fever, chills, eurethra irritation. I suspect my immune system detected it but was not able to handle it. There are quite a few people out there like me and the OP. I’m hoping one of us finds some solution.
I hope they are offering you treatment, at least, if they can't find a cause.
I don't mean to push you off, or discount your experiences. I had a chronic condition that took 20 years to get diagnosed. I really do hope you find the cause and get relief, even if it's herpes.
I don't mean to push you off, or discount your experiences. I had a chronic condition that took 20 years to get diagnosed. I really do hope you find the cause and get relief, even if it's herpes.
Ok thanks. Something is causing the skin and nerve pain. Please say a prayer for me
Red inflamed skin and genital nerve pain. There is no other explanation that comes close. I am 100 percent sure this is an STD. I am not positive of what it is. No one has any answers. I did test low positive for hsv 1 but western blot was negative. The WB was taken from same blood draw as hsv 1 positive.
why are you still thinking herpes then if you were negative on wb and aren't having symptoms consistent with herpes?
Yes I tested negative for hsv via western blot. This all started after unprotected sex. Red irritated skin in interglutuel cleft and top of penis. No blisters. Nerve pain in sacrum area and penis
I have spent thousands. Multiple docs. All kinds of test. No answers
I have spent thousands. Multiple docs. All kinds of test. No answers
herpes can reactivate in the csf to be detected in a spinal tap but it doesn't happen consistently and isn't likely at all to be of any help as far as herpes diagnosis at this point. I would assume there are other infections they are looking for but at a year into things, even the odds of that being helpful is pretty low.
herpes doesn't cause pain for a year either. did you have any herpes igg blood testing done at all?
grace
herpes doesn't cause pain for a year either. did you have any herpes igg blood testing done at all?
grace
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Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
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STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
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