Could this be Herpes 2?

I had unprotected vaginal sex 12 days ago. After about 4 or 5 days I started getting headaches, lower back pain, sweting a lot ( no apparent fever), and pain along my groin , thigh area. It is now 12 days after and my lower back is killing me and the headaches are not gone either. I feel slightly itchy in groin area but nothing major and I have a sore throat but I do not have any bumps or noticeable sores. Does this sound like herpes infection and if so, how long will these symptoms continue until I have an outbreak of sores?

[gracefromHHP]

without any obvious lesions, really nothing you can do test wise for herpes at this point.

have you been following up with your provider for your symptoms? Many things more likely than herpes that can be causing them.

grace

[rooney5]

I was going to see my doctor on Monday. With the lower back pain, sore throat, headaches, pain in upper thigh and right groin , itchy testicles, excess swetting, all of which developing 4 or five days after contact I am quite sure it is herpes. How soon after symptoms appear does it take generally until lesions appear?

[rooney5]

I also feel quite ill and have a sinus cold, it fits the herpes profile to a t, except for no visible sores yet which I imagine are coming within the week

[gracefromHHP]

sinus/cold issues are not the flu like symptoms we refer to with herpes.   neither are sore throats.  

grace

[big_dan]

Lower back pain and sweating can be indicators but this doesn't sound likely.  Like grace mentioned without some sort of blister or lesion to swab it's hard to tell.  Keep an eye out for them.  You want to get a swab done within 24-48 hours of blisters first showing.  This might require planning ahead with your physician so they can accomodate you when the time arrives.

[NBAFan365]

without any obvious lesions, sores, or discharge those are strong considerations to believe that you do not have stds. many of the symptoms you describe could be prostititas. the lower back pain and thigh groin pain. the slight itchyness in your groin could be due to anxiety. and symptoms dont last longer than 2 weeks. so keep us posted.

[petal130]

Agree with NBAFan. And, you'll hear the same thing reiterated on the expert's forum as to the absence of painful and obvious lesions (and trust me, I know from having them myself!). Itchiness for 3 weeks is almost certainly not a herpes issue - could be fungal or anxiety driven. Lastly, a one-time oral sex encounter is very low risk to begin with.

[rooney5]

My risk was one time unprotected vaginal sex not oral and my scrotum has felt itchy and my genital area as a whole for over 5 days straight now. The itching seems to be getting worse. I read online that lower back pain can be a sign of genital herpes and my back only became sore after this episode. What is the usual time frame for sores to appear if you are showing symptoms? I will keep you posted but I think this is definite genital herpes

[gracefromHHP]

usually lesions occur within a day or two of your other symptoms.  as I already said, this is more likely something else than herpes so continuing to follow up on things with your provider is the best course of action. don't get stuck into thinking it has to be herpes when odds are it's something else going on.

grace

[rooney5]

Sorry to post again but I am in need of some information. The back pain I am experiencing is quite intense and is located centrally along my spine in the bottom half of my back. This pain is constant now and I have seen multiple sources that state this is a symptom for men with Genital Herpes. It is like a sharp, intense , burning like pain that seems to be building. I also have an itchy scrotum but still no sores or bumps are present. Could my back pain be a warning of an upcoming OB? I had none of this back pain prior to my unprotected vaginal intercourse 13 days ago, it seems to much of a co-incidence not to be Herpes related. My doctor isn't much help as he says I have no sores but I have read online that the back pain is very much a herpes symptom. Any light you can shed on this would be appreciated, this will be my last post baring an sore or outbreak of sores, thanks.

[answermyquestionplease]

Well I havent been having those symptoms but i been itchy around my pubic area for almost three weeks. I got tested for hsv 2 and it came out negative but i took the test nine days after receiving oral sex. NBAFAN said that symptoms shouldnt last more than two weeks so im hoping that my hsv 2 results arent false results. Just go and get blood work done and see what results you get. Good Luck. I know how you feel cause i still feel really nervous.

[gracefromHHP]

if you have a worsening of your back pain, you need seen for it.

honestly herpes is not the only thing that causes back pain. really good sex can throw your back out too ;)

grace

[rooney5]

This is a pain that seems to be building up and getting stronger, it almost feels like a heat along my spine. How long can symptoms last from initial herpes outbreak before sores> What is the typical body response?

[gracefromHHP]

you need to stop thinking herpes as a cause of your pain.

go and be seen and get properly evaluated.  If your regular clinic isn't open, go to your local ER.

grace

[rooney5]

Why are you so confident in thinking that it is not herpes related?

[rooney5]

Sorry to bother you again but it has now been 16 days since my unprotected vaginal sex and I am still having major pain in my lower back, it almost feels like a burning or tightening. I still have not had any sores that I can tell, I had a red mark on my scrotum that looked like a scratch but it was gone within a day. I have had headaches in between my eyes for over a week straight. The itching seems to have gone from my genital area but I feel nausea and the extreme back pain all day. If I have no sores , do I just have to wait three months to test for Herpes, or is there anything else I can do before that? Are there any other STD's besides herpes that could be causing my back pain?

[gracefromHHP]

have you been seen by a doctor yet about this since it got worse?

[rooney5]

I saw my family doctor but he said as I had no sores that he doubted it was genital herpes. I however feel different as I have never felt this intense back pain and it fits the time line for genital herpes. How long can you go before sores appear if the back pain is indeed herpes related?

[gracefromHHP]

once again, you need to stop thinking herpes as the cause. did they do anything other than examine you for herpes lesions?

you would've had lesions within a day or two of the back pain starting if this was herpes.

[rooney5]

He said without any lesions and because it was only 2 weeks ago it was too soon for a blood test. My back pain and upper right thigh pain has been present for over a full week now but there definitely has not been any lesions that I have noticed to this point. I also have had a constant headache and congestion for that same time frame. Are you of the opinion that was is affecting me is not genital herpes?

[petal130]

Yes, that's what we've been saying this entire thread. If you browse through the expert's forum as well, you'll read over and over that pain such as this in the absence of lesions is almost certainly NOT herpes related. There are SO many other causes for back pain! Work with your medical provider to find out what's causing it.

[rooney5]

Sorry, I've just been really stressed out and the internet gives out a lot of conflicting information. The scrotum itchiness, headaches, upper thigh pain and back pain were not there prior to this sexual incident and I have read of people having back pain without lesions with herpes. Some people have stated they get there first outbreak of lesions months after initial infection.

[gracefromHHP]

yes you can get  more obvious lesions months/years even after you were infected but just back pain and no lesions is typically something else going on.

congestion is a cold, not herpes.

[rooney5]

In addition to the back pain , my tailbone and buttocks are also starting to be sore as well and hurt when I move in certain directions . My butt almost feels like it is going numb or is asleep. I also have really dry eyes and they have shown pink in the corners like I am getting pink eye but then it goes away.

[gracefromHHP]

you need to be seen and follow up on this pain from a non-std standpoint as we've been telling you all along.

grace

[rooney5]

thanks very much for your advice I will do so

[rooney5]

I went to see my doctor again yesterday and he is having trouble coming to the source of my back pain. When I wake up in the morning it feels much better but as soon as my day progresses it gets worse and worse. I did no heavy lifting or exercise that I can recall that would account for this. It seems to have built up gradually from about 5 days after the unprotected sex until now. My right knee and thigh also have pain and it seems to have moved into my buttocks. I have read numerous sources on the internet that state that herpes can present itself with excessive lower back pain but this site seems to suggest that that is not probable. Have you heard of initial genital herpes presenting in this manner? I guess I need to wait for three months to get the blood test but I am quite certain this is herpes related. I read dozens of examples of people with genital herpes who were turned away from doctors because of a lack of sores or lesions only to be positive in the end.

[rooney5]

What is discharge exactly? The other day when I masturbated the semen was very watery and I seemed to have excess watery pre cum. Is this what they mean by watery discharge, or is this something that occurs on its own?

[gracefromHHP]

perhaps an orthopedic consult or a neurologist would be good specialties to follow up on this with at this point if your regular provider is stumped.

the discharge with a std is frequent, not just with masturbation.

[rooney5]

The last question I have regarding this is about testing and probability of having herpes. In previous responses you stated that you doubted that my symptoms were Herpes related do to the lack of any visual sores. I have read however that up to 80 percent of people are unaware that they have genital herpes as no sores are present initially. Is you opinion based on the fact that if I were showing symptoms of G.H. that sores would be included in this? I am confused because it seems like you can have no symptoms at all and still have it, so if I am having symptoms other than visual ones is it not probable they are herpes related? I am in Canada and they will not test for G.H. unless there are sores present but I do not want to infect anyone if I do have it. I guess I was wondering what my next course of action should be? thanks for your continued help.

[gracefromHHP]

actually no it's not that folks aren't having symptoms, it's that they aren't recognizing the signs of herpes.  

I'm not sure what else I could possibly say that will help you stop thinking herpes as a cause. odds are the sex you had was a coincidence to your symptoms ( or pretty darn good sex that threw your back out/pinched a nerve etc ) and not a cause of your symptoms.  

Unless you get actual test results to discuss, I don't really think any further posts are warranted. Feel free to pay to post to Terri Warren our herpes expert here on medhelp for her opinion.

grace

[rooney5]

I got back a few test results. I was negative for gon, and clamidya and I know you told me to try and not think about genital herpes but I really think that is what I have. The head of my penis has been burning , painful for over three days now and the lower back pain I mentioned previously is like nothing I have felt before. It is all along my spine from my lower back up to the middle. In addition I have daily headaches that don't last all day but have been constant. I also feel some discomfort , pressure in my lower abdominal area above my genitals but below my belly button. The head of my penis feels really sensitive , but it is up to 24 days now and still no sores or blisters. Is it possible to have extreme back pain from herpes for over two weeks but not show any sores? If I don't see any sores do I just have to wait until 3 months to do a blood test? Nothing else seems to make sense except herpes, where do I go from here?

[rooney5]

I value your opinion and you seem quite knowledgeable in regards to herpes , I am just frustrated and in need of advice. My doctor and this site seem to suggest the symptoms are probably not herpes do to a lack of sores but I have read multiple sources online that state the absolute opposite. I am almost approaching 4 weeks after the incident and my back pain has been present for over three weeks now. My genital area is still itchy and feels uncomfortable and I still get headaches during the day. I have not had any noticeable fever or sores that I can speak of. How long can these symptoms persist if they were herpes related?

[rooney5]

Is there any chance of getting a response on my last two posts? I got some results back as mentioned and need an educated opinion, thanks. I can't use Terri Warren as I cannot pay for it.

[gracefromHHP]

you have received more than enough help at this point. as I've said already, nothing more we can help you with at this point.  

[rooney5]

Thank you for your help, I will try to move forward. Do you believe what is affecting me is not herpes related?