leg pain and HSV questions

[deerdan]

Hello Terri,
I had originally posted in the std forum, but have since received tests and developed a new (possible?) symptom. Essentially, I had a very brief unprotected encounter with a girl of unknown sexual history about 10 and 1/2 weeks ago. There was some genital to genital contact ('grinding') for about a minute and maybe 1/2 way penetration for a few seconds?  About 3 weeks later I noticed something on the shaft of my penis, almost like a piece of skin or a scab, I immediately went to urgent care and the doc said 'nothing to worry about'. 4 days later I had another person at planned parenthood look at it, and about 2 days after that I had a dermatologist look at it (maybe a PA, but at the derm office), both said that it wasn't hsv (it also is still there...). I've been tested for for everything (gonorrhea, chlamydia, hiv, syphilis) but herpes at the 7 week mark, all negative.  Recently I have developed some lower back and leg pain. I guess the leg pain could best be described as a weak spasm of some sort, or a weak jabbing pain; it is in both legs, in the thighs (both front and back), butt area, even the ankles. I also notice that my scrotum tingles every now and again, for only a few seconds... I'm really concerned about herpes, I've been looking at my genitals 2 or 3 times a day looking for anything out of the ordinary... Other than what I described above, I haven't seen anything out of the ordinary, but I also have pearly penile papules, so I'm worried I'll miss something. I guess my question is whether this could be herpes related leg pain? Whether I should get tested, and if so what type of test I should ask for?  I don't know if it is relevant or not, but I've had unprotected vaginal encounters with 4 women in my lifetime (2, including the one I described above in the last year) and probably unprotected oral with 8 women or so in my lifetime.  Sorry for the long post, any advice would help me very much.  Thank you.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

I'm really sorry, I don't have any other thoughts about your case.  If you get a rash again, you should definitely have it swab tested.

Terri

[deerdan]

Hi Terri, thanks for your comments thus far. I still remain worried about herpes... The pains in my thighs, hips, and buttocks remain (they are not very strong, but my legs also feel generally weak...), as well as my intermittent scrotum tingling (I guess these symptoms have been going on for a week or so now?); I also have some clear discharge every now and again (after milking the penis, it looks like 'pre-cum'), but this only occurs after a bowel movement, or when I wake up with an erection. My fear is now concentrated on possible previous exposures. About 5 years ago I had a painful rash on the lower right side of my torso (love handle area of the back, above the waistline). It was diagnosed as shingles, but there was no swab done (I was not even aware that this was a possibility then...). I have never had any other outbreaks like this in this area or others. Before the case of shingles, I had not had any unprotected vaginal intercourse, maybe one very brief unprotected 'grinding session' (a minute or two maybe..), and numerous unprotected oral encounters (receiving). Is it possible that the case of shingles was HSV 1 or 2? Is it possible that these leg pains are some manifestation of HSV 1 or 2 acquired 5 yrs ago (I cannot think of an instance in which I noticed something on my genitals that I did not promptly have inspected...)? I think I'm going to have a blood test done soon, I'm going crazy over this... I can't remember whether or not I have had a cold sore in my life, so I am very scared about a positive HSV 1 result. Any input on these things would be very much appreciated, and I understand if this will be your last reply...

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Intermittent tingling is probably common and most often ignored because most often, herpes isn't a worry.

Terri

[deerdan]

oh, and i forgot... I have intermittent tingling in my scrotum for a few seconds at a time...

[deerdan]

I've thought of being tested, if only because I think I will relate everything on my body to herpes... But, I'm also very scared that a false positive result would cause me even more stress.  I had a doctor look at the spots on my thigh and she said it was folliculitis.  The only 'symptoms' I've had have been this intermittent leg / glute / back pain.  The back pain feels more like stiffness than anything (I feel it in my lower / middle back when I bend a certain way or move into a certain position...) and the leg pain usually occurs in my thighs, sometimes my glutes, and even in my calves every now and again (it is mostly a mild jabbing pain...).  I guess I'm concerned maybe I missed something in the past, even though I've been to the doc anytime I thought I noticed something, and I just now started noticing these symptoms... I may just be fixating on these things, but I also don't want to miss what may be signs...

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

If you've never been tested for herpes before, you could do that.  However, if you test positive, you can't possibly know if you acquired this from this contact.  I continue to believe that this experience puts you at very low risk for herpes infection.

Terri

[deerdan]

Hi Terri, thanks for your reply.  I have never been tested for HSV.  I've been pretty diligent about having anything that looks suspicious checked out by a doc, but I've never had any blood tests done.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Sorry, we are camping this weekend and I'm away from my desk.  

Nothing you have listed worries me that you have herpes at all.  The bump on your thigh is likely a tiny folliculitis or something else, but it sounds nothing at all like herpes.

Also, the contact that you had was so very brief and so low risk that I would be extremely surprised if it resulted in any kind of STD at all.  

As for testing - have you ever been tested for HSV?  

Terri

[deerdan]

bump? I don't mean to be rude, just really would like some advice... and saw some other questions on the board got answered...

[deerdan]

I have also just noticed a small (1mm x 1mm) red bump on my inner-thigh. I can't be sure, but it appears to have a small black dot? There is only one bump and it is not sensitive or itchy. Any help would be appreciated, I'm freaking out...