why does herpes cause back/butt pain?

[xxnikkixx666]

Hey Grace, I have a question about herpes.  Why is it that it causes lower back, butt, perineum, and back of thigh pain/numbness?  I know that it hides in the nerves of your spine....could this cause the sciatia like nerve pain?

Also, why does herpes cause pressure in your lower abdomen?

Thanks so much!

[BG47]

I started having outbreaks in 2006, I think everyone is correct.  I have terrible low back issues and sciatic never issues.  My skin at times is very sensitive to touch usually upper thigh area.  At times while sleeping I will wake in the middle of the night because my hips hurt very bad.  I have had a few MRI's and after a lot of reading about Herpes, I feel its what is causing my issues. I have read that Herpes attaches itself to the spine . The initial outbreak was terrible with me.  I found out that I was Vitamin B deficient and Vitamin D deficient. I now know that I have had this terrible disease for about 28 years, it took about 16 years before I had an outbreak. My ex took me to doctor after doctor.  I had ask for an STD test but no one told me that a Herpes test was different. This went on for about 1 year, I only found out because my EX passed away and his son flew in from California, he made the comment to me that His mother would never forgive him for giving Herpes to her.  I was shocked that he knew the whole time but did not have the decency to tell me what was wrong. After his son's comment I went to the Doctor and ask to be tested and sure enough the mystery was solved. I had been to so many doctors that year, I had multiple outbreaks.  I went through multiple tests, MRI's, CT Scans you name it and they had tested me for it. The doctors that stood by me were a Spine doctor and a Rheumatologist, I ended up there due to the many back issues and sciatic nerve issues and the hospital sent me to the Rheumatologist due to finding high levels of inflammation in my body. When I finally found out what was going on I felt that I needed to tell both of the 2 doctors what it was since they tried so hard to help me.  Both Doctors were so mad that someone would know and not tell me They both told me well I don't think this information needs to go on your medical record.  So long story short YES!!! it is defiantly associated with lower back issues.  Sorry for the long story but I have held this in for years, of course you don't tell people due to embarrassment so It felt nice to get it off my chest.

[Fr33m3plz]

They put me on a steroid and trizanadine as if it was for my sciatica but this is most definitely not sciatica. It does ease my pain though so I'm not complaining except for the fact that I can't work. That's how excruciating it is.

[Cselina]

I have been suffering with excruciating back pain which has been investigated numerous times via MRI scans. I have taken lots of different pain relief medication including codeine & tramadol. I am now trialling neuro pain relief in the form of gabapentin. None of the scans nor tests I have had have yielded any answers as to why my back pain is so bad & now I am curious as t whether it's related to the herpes virus. I discovered I had contracted it just before all the back pain started. It's been three years now. That being said, for the first two years I took aciclovir religiously because of the frequency of my outbreaks & during the time I tried to suppress the virus, my back pain remained a problem. So perhaps it's not related. But food for thought!

[Coconutband]

I didn't start having outbreaks until I was 30 years old.  I blamed my wife at the time for giving it to me cause I was with her for 8 years and I never cheated on her.  She got tested and she didn't have it.  My doctor told me most people get the virus when they are kids and you don't start having problems until you are older and your immune system can't fight the virus anymore.  Your body falls apart as you get older.  The only thing you can do is exercise, eat healthy and do what ever you can to keep your immune system happy.  Other problems are probably just other problems when you get older.  Also I have found that it is better to not take daily pills for this cause your body gets used to the pills.  Its better to only take meds only when you feel the tingle at large doses which hopefully your doctor can help you with cause my doctor screwed it up for years.  Now if I feel the tingle I take 2 MG of Valtrex in one day which kills the virus before it starts.  Its all about figuring out your own body with your doctor, I have finally figured out what works for me and any other problems with my body are just other problems.  

[Stephaniescott0]

They say that outbreaks gets lesser and lesser as you age. But obviously the immune system will drop as we age too. This Is confusing. How could there be lesser outbreaks as we age with low immunity.

[corybaby]

Ive had it longer and in the last two years have been fighting this pain in back of thighs and butt, my doctors think its my back, i have a really messed up lower spine but none of the shots theyve tried do anything for this terrible burning pain, makes it impossible to sit at work without pain meds....what can i take? do any of the hepes drugs help you?   ive no sores or anyhting, ive been taking acyclovir everyday for almost 30 years and never get any outbreaks....does this sound like your problem?
Burning in the pereneum,butt cheeks, backs of thighs , under the testicles and like a little sweating that feels like major chafing, using a lot of baby powder everyday too?
corybaby paininbutt

[Stephaniescott0]

Im experiencing butt pain too, but only on the left side. Also feels uncomfortably when i pee. Like it burns abit inside. Never read anywhere that butt pain could be the side effect of herpes

[Nuke59]

I have had herpes for nearly 22 years now and only in the last year has the pain been present on the back of my legs and butt area. I've been trying to find out what the long term effects of this virus is with no luck. Hopefully one day they will come up with a cure for this virus (if they haven't already) because the frequency of the outbreaks is increasing along with the pain. One other thing I have noticed is that these last few outbreaks seem to also cause my penis to have darkened splotches that are slightly tender to the touch.  

[Stephaniescott0]

Oh no. Ive read that you are supposed to have lesser and lesser outbreaks as you grow older. Seems like its not always the case:(

[Amberocks]

I'm wondering the same thing. I contracted herpes only a few months ago and the pain was excruciating. I could barely sit on the toilet. My legs are very sensitive to the touch and I get shooting pains through my thighs. I'm curious why so many people are reporting this and doctors keep saying it has nothing to do with the virus, and that it must be another underlying issue. Why us the pain only present around the time of an outbreak if that is true?

[shesajoy3]

Amberocks, I have had the same excruciating pain. One doctor told me that was unusual and had nothing to do with the virus (my ob/gyn, ironically), and the other, my primary care physician, said that happens sometimes.  I had an initial outbreak three months ago, and am still having pain.  Have had two small, insignificant rashes since then (in the same locations, and the original rash was not so bad anyway, just the nerve pain).  The pain in my legs, feet, hips, and sacrum improved, but my tailbone just feels terribly bruised and will not seem to improve at all.  I did have all the shooting pains, etc., and that did improve, so hang in there.  I had the skin sensitivity, pain sitting on the toilet, haven't been able to go to yoga for three months more than a handful of times.  I am considering taking the Acyclovir as suggested by my doctor for about 3 mos to get it under control, even though there haven't been any new rashes.  So that's something to consider.  You are not crazy, and not alone. :)

[gracefromHHP]

nick - pain this bad needs follow up on.  just pain and no obvious lesions would be very unusual so don't assume it's all from the herpes infection we don't even know if you actually  have or not.

grace

[gracefromHHP]

slacker when you and I figure out herpes - we are blowing this clambake and retiring to some nice secluded island where we can work on our skin cancer, have our chef make us delicious food all day long and I'm burying my nose in smut books and relaxing!!!

grace

[slacker101]

The herpes virus lives in the nerves!!! The virus themselves can cause pains throughout points attached to that nerve ganglion. How were you diagnosed with Herpes and what are your symptoms etc..

[xxnikkixx666]

so are you saying that it's the herpes that is actually attacking the nerves and causing the pain or is it your own immune system attacking your nerves in an attempt to get to the herpes.

because as of now, this pain is really annoying and quite painful.  i hope it's just part of the initial outbreak.

[slacker101]

Pressure in your lower abdomen? Hmmm, not sure about that one but as far as back pain and leg pain, herpes lives in the nerves like you said and when you get it genitally, sometimes the nerves that share where the herpes is gets affected by the virus and you can wind up with pain in certain parts of the lower body... Everyone is different how the virus will affect you. It's like catching a cold, some people get a cough and a runny nose where some people just get a sore throat! Virus's are not understabable by humans quite yet but once Grace and I figure out how they operate, we will let you know but till then, it can affect all sorts of places and some people get zero symptoms :)