Herpes Simplex and Nerve Pain

[roxyloxy]

I have had legions on my buttocks (both sides, and sometimes simultaneously) since I was about 6 or 7 years old, reappearing as often as twice per month, depending on stress level I think.  I was diagnosed with Shingles, but when I asked for a definitive diagnosis, they did blood tests (which show antibodies to shingles) and a biopsy of the legions.  The dermatologist now says they are Herpes Simplex blisters...genital herpes...not on my genitals but on my buttocks.  Now I am starting from scratch trying to figure out where the heck is the root cause of the pain in my sacroiliac joints, buttocks, and down the outsides (and sometimes front and back) of my legs...My question is this: could herpes simplex cause nerve pain the same way shingles does?  If not, do you have any ideas about this specific kind of pain?  I used to have a herniated disk, but therapy seemed to heal it, and I've had cortosone shots in my sacroiliac joints that made it MUCH MUCH worse...permanently...I'm a senior in college, a wife and mother of three, and I need to figure this out and either fix it and go to work, or get it diagnosed, and accept disability...but not knowing is driving me CRAZY!!!  Please help me.

Roxanne

[Tartarus]

BUMP!

[horsebackrider]

Hi Quix,

I have been diagnosed with Herpes Simplex II.  I am also having issues.  It appears to be typical nerve damage symptoms, but nothing showed up on 6 MRIs this year.  Now I suddenly am having several break outs.  I never really had many symptoms before.  I also have been having swollen lymph nodes in my inner thighs.  The tissue feels like a criss-cross of ropes in there, too.  My GP said it feels fibrous.  I was wondering if you could tell me where you found that they are doing research on this issue.  I searched your suggested terms, but found nothing.  My GP said that herpes pain is usually localized.  It pretty much is in my groin area, but also travels down my right leg.  I have super sensitivity in my skin which turns to pain in my buttocks, groin and right leg.  Anyone out there know of any online articles or research on this subject?

[mandylynn0621]

Omg i have had herpes for 3 yrs took valtrex quit 3 months quit had no outbreaks but several months later i started experiencing strange symptoms like numb spine or more like bruised weakness etc i thought maybe the valtrex caused it since it can cause ttp or is my body neurologicaly messed up because its fighting a virus constantly? good luck to u

[mandylynn0621]

I too have had MRI's. I am wondering if i should take valtrex or not.

[KBjj]

smc22

I suspect you have genital herpes I would advise attending a GUM clinic when the blister attack starts again they will take swabs to determine if it is indeed this, the swabs need to be taken when the blisters are wet prior to forming a scab. I have attended a Sexual Health Course where the advisors stated genital herpes only form on the genitals. However I have indeed seen a case where the blisters formed on the buttocks with associated temperature senisitivity & nerve pain. The person in question was also informed by several doctors that it was indeed an insect bite.

[aeiou1]

Up to 70% of genital HSV infections are clinically unrecognized. The majority of patients with genital herpes have symptoms and signs unrecognized either by themselves or their clinicians. A recent retrospective study on clinical presentation of the disease reported 51% of cases to be atypical (11)  (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11385226). Currently, many doctors rely on the typical clinical presentation of the disease. Underdiagnosis of genital herpes because of misinterpretation of either anatomical or morphological presentations of the disease can accelerate the spread of the epidemic.

What all that means is that your doctors THINK they know herpes, but they DON'T, and more than half of cases in the aforementioned study did not appear according to the conventional "wisdom" taught in medical schools.  BE AWARE that most doctors are not current on the literature. HERPES CAUSES NEUROPATHIES in many people affected. If they tell you only varicella does that, they are wrong.  If they tell you HSV 1 or HSV 2 are not associated with neuralgia, they are wrong.  If you're putting 2 and 2 together, and you think your herpes is causing your back and leg pain and sensitivity, IT PROBABLY IS.  Keep looking for a doctor who is current on the literature and understands the neurolopathic aspect of the disease.  Ask before making an appointment so you don't keep wasting your money.  There is no good news here.  There is no cure, and opiods are virtually useless for MOST neuropathies, not just herpes. The medication Neurontin (gabapentin) may be helpful. Get plenty of rest, drink lots of water, and eat well.  Support your immune system as much as possible.

And EDUCATE YOUR DOCTORS.  If they're not suffering, they're not likely to just spontaneously look into it.  Tell them to check the Merck Manual, for pete's sake.