Postherpetic neuralgia from herpes?

[freckles645]

Can genital or simplex herpes cause Postherpetic Neuralgia?  I had a severe herpes outbreak (8 blisters everywhere) beginning April 24  when my eye doctor took me off of Acyclovir after nine years.  The Acyclovir was used to prevent further flares in my left eye from Herpes Iritis.  Now I am suffering from pain in the muscle and tingling in my right arm.  There was a blister in that area which has now healed.  My internist has diagnosed me (after MRI) as having bone spur puttting pressure on c-6 or c-7 in my neck and I am facing surgery for that.  There is no pain in my neck or any where else.  Therapy has not helped.  Am taking 800-1200 mg of Advil and 800 mg of Acyclovir daily, plus Alcum for pain at night.  All the doctors so far have said it happens with shingles but not genital or simplex herpes.  


This discussion is related to Herpes Simplex type 1 (genital herpes) ? Postherpetic Neuralgia.

[Maggie987]

I am so sorry you're going through this. I've been trying to find a doctor who recognizes post herpetic neuralgia from herpes simplex. It's in the pelvic floor nerves and causes constant spasms that are very hard to live with. People with herpes recognize their symptoms, the prodrome, etc. It's hard enough to live with without having doctors cast doubts on the validity of your suffering. Herpes can do alot more than cause a few aggravating blisters for people who are susceptible and I hope and pray that some help will be found.    Maggie

[freckles645]

My symptoms are slowly beginning to subside.  The post herpetic neuralgia  pain in my upper right arm is almost gone, but the tingling up and down my arm is still very much there.  I have been to internist, dermatologist, opthomologist,  therapist, neurologist, neurosurgeon and have had differing opinions from all.  Acyclovir, time and Ibuprofen have been the best healers, in my opinion, even with taking neurontin.  If I lower my dosage of Acyclovir below 600mg/day, the symptoms (right arm pain and blisters) begin again.  My dermatologist told me I will probably have to take Acyclovir the rest of my life.  

All of this began after opthomologist took me off of  Acyclovir after nine years of daily Acyclovir (400mg) to prevent a recurrence of herpes iritis (eye disease).  The Acyclovir was prescribed by Univ. of San Francisco nine years ago.....   Freckles645