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Foot Pain

by Fitt4, Dec 18, 2006 12:00AM
I recently had a scary hiv encounter - unprotected sex with a female for :20 -- weeks after felt like i got all the symptoms - white tongue, rash on testicles, headaches, diarrhea.  Anyhow, i got tested at six weeks -- negative.



However, I'm still getting pain on the top of my feet and ankles - doc trying to tell me it is from anxiety...and to get on with my life....



has anyone ever heard of pain in the feet as a result of anxiety -- i'm worried that it is from hiv....and should be re-tested...



been thinking about it constantly for over 2 months.
Member Comments (35)

by socgirl, Dec 18, 2006 12:00AM
to my knowledge, foot pain is not generally a symptom of HIV...so it most likely is anxiety.  I strongly reccomend therapy.  Also if your test was negative at 6 weeks, you have nothing to worry about.  Anxiety can cause all kinds of symptoms

by Fitt4, Dec 18, 2006 12:00AM
thanks so much - makes me feel better.



i wanna trust the six week result!



and the foot pain comes and goes, which is weird...some days its not there, others it hurts on top....especially when i'm thinking about it..



doc tells me to move on...just trying to buy in

by sparkeler, Dec 19, 2006 12:00AM
Foot pain is not a symptom of hiv.  See a Podiatrist if it continues.  A 6 week test is absolutely conclusive, since 90% of people will seroconvert at 26 days.

by Fitt4, Dec 19, 2006 12:00AM
To: Sparkeler
do you think it can be due to anxiety? it just seems so ironic.



i just want to put this behind me.

by sparkeler, Dec 19, 2006 12:00AM
To: fitt
Yes it can be due to anxiety.  Especially when your paying attention to EVERYTHING your body does.  You have your ear up to the door and your waiting to hear a pin drop.  Thats how careful your listeningto your body.  I can assure you your foot would be hurting even if you weren't affraid of hiv.  You just wouldn't notice it or really care.  Your letting every little thing become a sign of hiv, when in fact it's just normal body sensations.  Your acuteness is helping manifest your anxiety.  You need to relax.

by Fitt4, Dec 19, 2006 12:00AM
just so bizarre that at times the pain has been so bad in BOTH feet - on top of the feet..and in the ankles...started at like 5 weeks after the encounter...and is still lingering...never had foot issues EVER in the past either - just came out of the blue

by socgirl, Dec 20, 2006 12:00AM
Yes....pains can be bizarre.  GO TO A DOCTOR about the foot pain.  Relax

by Fitt4, Dec 20, 2006 12:00AM
To: socgirl
Pain is still there in my feet - sometimes on bottom of feet, sometimes on top -- feels better when i take my shoes off.....



this can really be from anxiety -- i just hope its not hiv-related - praying my 6-week test is reliable!

by Fitt4, Dec 20, 2006 12:00AM
To: socgirl
why do you say if my negative test was at six weeks, do i have nothing to worry about? do you truly believe that?

by socgirl, Dec 20, 2006 12:00AM
To: fitt4
yes, i truly believe that.  As one of the above poster's mentioned, people seroconvert after 26 days or something like that, which is why health professionals say that a test at 6 weeks is reliable.  Also, foot pain is not a symptom of HIV.  It is probably anxiety or could be some type of nerve problem...particularly since you said something about noticing a difference when you either put shoes on or take them off.  Go to your pcp get checked out...it could be a nerve thing...i'm still going with anxiety though.  If you don't learn how to relax, this will continue to drive you nuts and you'll begin thinking that you have HIV after every single encounter you have.  good luck

by Fitt4, Dec 20, 2006 12:00AM
thanks so much, i appreciate the quick response - it makes me feel better. feet definitely feel better when i take my shoes off -- worried that it was neuropathy due to hiv???



i just hope the six week deal is reliable -- have you heard of other health care professionals state that? or just this doc?

by Fitt4, Dec 20, 2006 12:00AM
To: socgirl
thanks so much, i appreciate the quick response - it makes me feel better. feet definitely feel better when i take my shoes off -- worried that it was neuropathy due to hiv???



i just hope the six week deal is reliable -- have you heard of other health care professionals state that? or just this doc?



it was only one-time encounter unprotected with female for no more than :20

by chcnme, Dec 20, 2006 12:00AM
To: Fitt
Fitt, I hope you're doing better.  Peripheral neuoropathy comes with chronic infection (it would not be seen in someone who had just been exposed to HIV even if you WERE exposed.)  Did anyone do any pre / post test counseling on you when they tested you for HIV?  I used to work communicable diseases, STDs including HIV pre and post testing counseling.  If you are concerned that this test is not accurate, get tested again.  You can call the public health department and tell them you want to be tested for HIV because you fear you were exposed.  They will instruct you what to do.  The foot pain could be from a number of things, including peripheral neuropathy, bad fitting shoes, sports injury - anything.  But if the pain continues, you are probably not going to stop worrying about exposure to HIV, and so - I think the only way to resolve this in your mind once and for all is to get tested again.  



Best of luck.

by Fitt4