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1907326 tn?1323894789

Leg pain and herpes

I have had Herpes Type 2 for about 5 1/2 years.  I am a 30 year old female with a healthy immune system. My first outbreak was very typical; flu-like symptoms, fatigue, and blisters for about 2 weeks. I have had recurrent OBs since then, decreasing in duration of the actual OB and in time between OBs.  It had been over a year since I had an outbreak and I was hoping it would last, but it did not.  Last week I got another OB, but experienced pain down the back part of my leg all the way to my heel for the first time.  It made sense since I get OBs on my left side of my vagina.  Anyway, I went and got a prescription of Valtrex, twice a day for 10 days.  I am still on the medicine, the blisters have cleared but now I am feeling that pain shooting down my leg to my heel again and slight twinges near the OB site. Ugh!! Am I going to have another recurrent outbreak when I just got over the first one?? Am I contagious? I don’t want to infect my BF and Im ready to get intimate again.  I have never had back to back OBs.  I think the shortest between OBs was 2 months. Please help!
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Avatar universal
I contracted HSV 1 about 4 years ago.. I thought I was lucky, my outbreams were few and only had them the first year.. maybe 3 or 4 max... I went 4 years, and a pregnancy without an outbreak.. Started going to the gym this week so I summed up sore innee thighs to that and stretches I was doing.. I never put two and two together that... last week my lady bits were sooooooo itchy... i summed that up to hair growing  back or razor rash...
2 night ago I had sex with my spouse.... Yesterday my vagina was extremely sore... aftwr examination I realized after 4 friggen years I am having an outbreak!  

My legs, hips and groin ache this time. So badly. My left side is more tender and i cant even cross my lefs on the floor or.I get charlie horses...

Ive never had soreness in my hips and legs like this befoee.. and Now since outbreaking zo quickly after sex but the irching before im worries my partner will contract it as i was def. shedding the virus at the time of sex.. We have been together over 2 yrs and ive never had an outbreak... never thought I would again either
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1 Comments
Before your outbreak after 4 years, were you having unprotected sex with your spouse?? Or do you ALWAYS use condoms?
Avatar universal
I have sciatica pain in the back of my right leg currently and think its linked to having herpes, even though i don't currently have a break out of blisters.  Since I first got herpes, the flare ups have been fewer and farther between. However, some times when I am stressed, this pain occurs in the back of my leg, really sore, or my butt hurts like i've been riding a horse all day long.  My outbreak first occurred on my left butt cheek in a cluster 6 years ago.  So, I'd have to look at my test results, I know they said I have herpes, but I don't know if its herpes I, II, or herpes zoster.

The pain on the back of my leg tends to go away in a matter of a few days.  I know herpes are attached to nerve endings in the body, so it makes sense when you are stressed these symptoms can arise, because when you are stressed your immune system weakens, preventing the herpes virus from remaining suppressed.

So try to relax, find ways to work out your stress like going on a walk, or working out, breathing exercises, positive thoughts, prayer, not stressing over it :) and generally just treating your body extra well - diet - maybe some tea, or a hot bath, something to help your body as its going through this.

You also mentioned you weren't feeling too hot.  That could be another reason you are experiencing this because your body is fighting the cough you have and hormonally your body is changing because of being on your menses.
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Avatar universal
Most G.P.'s don't connect Herpes II with Sciatia, Calf, Leg, Heel or similar pain. These are more common with Herpes Zoster, and very uncommon for Herpes I or II.  However, it does happen. The numbers are so low it's not widely known.  Usually a course of AntiViral will eliminate the pain if it is related to Herpes. It is ALWAYS a good idea to check with your doctor as there can be other factors causing this pain, but if you never had it before Herpes, and how you have it after contracting Herpes, a safe bet is to look at Herpes as being the cause of the pain. However, people with Herpes do get slipped discs and other back issues. Better safe than sorry on that front.

Some patients get chronic Sciatica from Herpes Viral Infections, and only courses of AntiVirals help eliminate the pain. I knew of a patient whom was an avid athlete and marathon runner. He had no issues with health whatsoever until he contracted genital herpes. Immediately upon his first breakout  he had severe lower back pain. He then suffered for three years with off and on back, leg, calf and foot pain. Finally, he complained of constant buttocks hamstring, calf and heel pain in both legs.  After a battery of tests, nothing was found medically wrong with physiolocigally. It was finally suggested, since the patient was complaining of constant burning in his genitals, that he be put on a  course of AntiVirals to rule out Herpes. Voila, In two weeks he felt 100 percent better.   This may not be the norm, but it certainly can happen.
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Avatar universal
I'm recently diagnosed with HSV2 had lesions and they passed, recently 2 weeks later got sore buttocks, pain down the left leg and really painfull heels. I can safely say this is a direct result of herpes, however amazingly the doctor at a sexual health clinic didnt know what she was talking about and reckons I visit a chiropractor... completely retarded!! I wish the medical profession would listen to their patients!!
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101028 tn?1419603004
I've had plenty of ob's in 20 years. suppressive therapy doesn't stop them all completely. suppressive therapy took me from 20 ob's a year down to 3-4 though so I'm not going to complain!

Just tell the bf no more sex until his test results are you in hands and start looking at adult toys online in front of him to show him how serious you are about pleasing yourself without his help until he does what he needs to do?
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1907326 tn?1323894789
You haven’t had an outbreak in over 20 years?? The idea of taking a pill or two a day for the rest of my life to combat a silly, non-life threatening virus saddens me.  I used to be proud of my health and the fact I am not dependent on medicines and doctors. I have an annual exam next week, I will speak with my doctor.  Maybe YOU can convince my BF to get tested?? :) JK
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101028 tn?1419603004
daily suppressive therapy is safe for long term use.  We have info on acyclovir taken suppressively for 25+ years now non-stop.  valtrex info for 15+ years. Famvir for about 15 years now too. None of them have been shown to have any long term side effects.  I've been on acyclovir myself now suppressively more than I haven't for over 20 years now :)

make sure your bf gets tested for herpes as well as all other std's too :)
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1907326 tn?1323894789
Thanks Grace. We haven’t discussed suppression therapy. I have heard that its not proven for long term use. My BF is pretty much convinced he has it too, based on his past sexual relationships, even though he's never been tested and hasn’t had symptoms. He admitted to having 50-60 sexual partners and only used condoms 5% of the time, blah!  Anyway, I have also heard the likely hood of transmission is still pretty low without suppression therapy, 96% per year, (yes I have read your other posts) versus 99% per year on Valtrex.  It doesn’t help that I am on my period and I have this nasty mucus cough thing going on, so my immune system is just hot to h*ll!
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101028 tn?1419603004
please just let the posters discuss their symptoms at their own pace instead of asking multiple questions like this. thanks!
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Avatar universal
Did you have pain lymph nodes?
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101028 tn?1419603004
also I removed all your other posts since they were the same as this. our read before posting post is located under the important announcements tab on the forum.
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101028 tn?1419603004
it's not unusual to have back to back ob's  actually the longer you are infected. to treat them you only need 500mg valtrex 2x/day for 3 days. no need for 10 days of medication - that's only for the first ob.  The medication has done all it can do within 3 days and taking more than that is just pretty much wasting time and money.

should you get another ob sooner than a month from now, be seen and get properly tested for yeast and bacterial infections vaginally. About 1/2 of all bv infections are asymptomatic but bv makes herpes more active.  definitely worth checking out if you get another recurrence soon.

you should consider yourself contagious at this point with the pains you are having and avoid sex to err on the side of caution. if these pains continue for more than a few days, follow up with your provider to make sure you don't have a back/nerve injury causing them ( something completely non-herpes related as a cause in other words ).

have you considered daily suppressive therapy to control your recurrences as well as significantly reduce shedding to reduce the odds of infecting your partner?

grace
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Avatar universal
do you have buttock pain too?
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Avatar universal
did u have blister or red bumps outbreak?
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1907326 tn?1323894789
I have had both blood and swab tests done, both positive. Ive lived with this for over 5 years and know the symptoms and my body pretty well, but the leg pain is new to me.  I want it to go away already!!
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Avatar universal
Thats mean the virues still active, you are not the only one have this symptoms,

How this diagno. you? (blood test or swab)

Thank you.
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