Joint/Muslce pain (possibly HIV related)?

I am not native English speaker, so my description my be a little awkward (I can explain further if needed).

I had unsafe sex 4 weeks ago and the first minute after it I began to panic. Little sleep in the following week, and then I started to experience pain in my muscles and joints. The panic resulted from strong feeling of guilty, and a strong fear of HIV infection.

At first it is only some minor feelings like needles in my knees/toes, and later it developed into muscle/joint pain all over my body (it is not unbearable but it is clear) after three weeks of anxiety. Sometimes it is like that there is an aching line from my finger to elbow. Sometimes it feels like someone is using a drill or something on the bones of my finger/shin/lower arm. There is no simultaneous pain in two different places though. Sometimes my upper arms have pulsing pain.

And every time it last about 3-5 minutes, and disappear completely (by pressing the area afterwards there is no further pain, so I guess it is not muscle injury). It seems that these pain occur in muscles/bones/joints.

This is weird. Is it fibromyalgia? Does anyone have experience on similar situation? Any suggestions? Thanks a lot!

P.s. I suspect it is HIV related, but assessment of my risk is low. So I guess it may be more a result of anxiety/depression...

[patsy10]

I don't think an HIV infection would show up this fast.  Infection with HIV is usually followed by a flu-like illness then the bad symptoms start later on.

[PlateletGal]

Many people do not experience symptoms when they first are exposed to HIV. Those who do, get "Acute HIV Syndrome" and usually have a fever, headache, fatigue, nausea and/or enlarged lymph nodes. From my understnading, these symptoms would occur three to six weeks after exposure and would go away within a week to a month.

You mentioned depression and depression can cause muscle pain. A suggestion... I would consider working on your anxiety/depression and see if your symptoms improve. Since you have anxiety about HIV, then get tested and make sure you are tested again at least 6 months after that sexual encounter occurred.

[ainxtein]

I had fever (up to 37.5C, lasting several hours) several times, and got nightsweat in the part two weeks, sometimes heavy. - bad signs? Is it more HIV related or more anxiety related?

[ainxtein]

Yes. I just want to understand my pain. I don't know whether it really related to HIV. I just want to know whether other thing can cause these pain symptom.

[patsy10]

Also, if you didn't see it already, there is a board for HIV and safe sex.  You might get more info. there.

[patsy10]

I would get tested so you know for sure.  I don't know if you are a man or a woman but a person is more likely to get it from heterosexual sex if you are a woman.  Also, there are other STD's that can cause infectious symptoms, such as hepatitis C.

[PlateletGal]

I don't believe you would have symptoms this long if you have HIV Syndrome and it sounds like you are NOT at high risk for contracting the HIV virus. I've seen many people on the HIV boards worrying because they were ill after unprotected or even sex where they used protection. I haven't seen one of these members' who came back and said they tested positive for the HIV. Most of these people ended up having a virus or another health condition.

Since you've been ill for one month, you should follow-up with your physcian. Talk to him/her about your concerns and your anxiety/depression.

[orphanannie59]

What you are describing could be phantom pains.  I have had fibro since 2000, and have it under control....until I am severely stressed mentally or physically.  Just yesterday I was having horrible pains in my right forearm wile driving.  It feels like bone pain, and hurts very badly, enough to make me sick to my stomach. It stopped for a while during the day and I ended up getting a stomach virus later on, so I think that is what caused it.  I believe my fibro was brought on from losing my mother to cancer and taking care of her.  I also have RLS and have for years which equals no quality sleep.  Even if you do not have fibro, I firmly believe high levels of stress and depression can cause you to have fibro symptoms including the phantom pains.  Try getting some counseling for your anxiety and learn some copying methods, and I bet your pain will ease up on you.  Good luck!!

[20071978]

Dear the symptoms for HIV starts up with flu like i.e. cough, fever, headache, runny nose, diarrhoea etc. But to make for sure and confirmatory answer do get tested for HIV by ELISA/Western blot.
This sounds to be more practical and will help you in relieving your anxiety.
GOOD LUCK

[Bert91]

Ainextein! I have the exact same story as you, I had a low risk as well. What happened??? was it all stress??? Please let me know, it would relieve so much stress from me!

[Bert91]

worriedman407, you have the exact same symptom as i do. so it's probably stress since you got a 7 week hiv antibody test. that's interesting, i've been having night terrors, i even have this presence in the left side of my head it could be from overthinking or stress. i just never experienced these symptoms from stress. i got tested with a pcr test came out negative 13 days later pretty accurate. i'm worried cause i had protected sex with a sex worker and feel guilty/scared about the whole thing the condom didn't break from what i saw, and i don't even know if she had hiv. it can possibly be in my head, i don't know it's been the 7th week for me as well. let me know how you are doing with your results?

[rsoberoi2013]

Did you go through the test after that? What was the result?

[konman22]

Guys please i need your help. i had sex with a friend in January and he released inside me. after that i took 4 postinor2  tablet. i discovered in the same month that i was 5 weeks pregnant and had 3 fibriods. I went for an abortion the same week. I did hiv test, it came out negative.  Two weeks later i discovered an abnormal yellowish discharge n rash on my back right and left arm. I went for a pa test n urine test n was told i have heavy staph and heavy ecoli infection.
I will be tru with the drugs tomorrow but m still worried about the hiv test. its been 4 months sine i took the hiv test n m so scared  cos right  now i have joints pains in legs, arms n sight headache. is it a symtom of hiv? n ve been on anti biotics for the past three weeks. is the joint pains related to side effects of antiobics or is it a symtom of hiv ? m so scared to take a test.  m so worried. please help me before i go crazy!!!!!

[chzy]

guys please help.i had unprotected sex 10 days ago. I now feel pain in my right leg, on the knee and on my my thigh. i had a leg fracture on that same thigh when i was young.i'm also feeling sleepy everytime. I am very worried that i might be suffering from acute hiv retroviral infection. Could i be infected?