Herpes Questions

Hi Doctor , just want to say thanks to your quick response to my questions. There are a couple of ther things I would like to know that I forgot to ask. On ceratin web pages they say that HSV can affect your sciatic nerve and cause anal fissures. About a 1 weeks after the encounter with sex worker who gave me unprotected oral sex for less than a minute , I started getting alternating lower back pain . moving from the one hip to the the other. It feels like muscle spasms.There was also abdomnial heaviness , nothing to severe( not sure if this due to stress or anxiety).Its sometimes goes away but I am aware of it most of the time. The other question is: If HSV affects the anus will it be painfull blister or does it go passed unnoticed. I am on a high protein diet and it does make my stool hard which causes a bit of bleeding( sometimes and it makes my anus feel uncomfortable for a couple of hours. Does HSV result most of the time in blisters.

Thanks

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Neuropathy--nerve inflammation typically causing pain, tingling, etc--is a common manifestation of some genital HSV infections, and can affect the sciatic nerve.  However, almost always that occurs along with overt, symptomatic genital herpes (blisters, sores, etc).  And HSV neuropathy is transient, a few days in conjunction with the outbreak. Finally, herpes neuropathies are on one side of the body or the other, almost never both sides.  You can be confident that back and hip pain of the sort you describe are not due to HSV.  (And if I remember correctly, I think it was clear from your previous thread that you didn't acquire HSV from the oral sex encounter you described.)

Some people with anal fissures or other anal lesions in fact have unrecognized HSV as the explanation.  But most anal fissures aren't due to herpes.  If a person has been tested for HSV-2 and had negative results, s/he can be sure that any anal problem isn't due to herpes.  HSV-1 might occasionally cause anal problems, but unlikely.

HHH, MD

[AnswerMan]

While HSV2 can cause various sensory neuropathies (see the link I have provided below about two such case studies), it's very rare, especially in the absence of lesions.  Most often, prodrome are the only neurological involvement and those almost always precede the development of visible lesions.  Your best bet is to see a neurologist and have a full work up to determine the cause.  

Good Luck.

http://www.myracoon.net/pdfs/Neuropathicpainhsv.pdf

[chris1031l]

sry for posting a question but im really worried and need an anwser....i think i might have herpes..tiny red spots....but i havent had any sex .. or any contact any where...i was at the ocean and day i ahve these little red spots..i dono  what to do is there any thing else it coould be? please help me

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

New question, needs to be posted as a new thread.  Sorry.  Or see a health care provider.

HHH, MD

[Olmeca]

Hi Doctor, I would like to once again thanks for your answers on all these questions. I just received a phone call from a disturbed women. She has herpes of the eye. Its been infected for about 2 months. She is very light sensitive and her eye keeps tearing.Her Doctor advised her to leave it and it will go away on its own.Is this true.I thought if you leave it , it could cause Corneal Ulcers.

Thanks

[krissy66332]

A related discussion, Herpes 2 in the CNS was started.