Do others here suffer from Herpes - cold sores?

Question

Research has proved there is a link between Herpes viruses (cold sores) and MS, I was wondering how many of you suffer from them and do they occur when you are having a flare up? Also what have you found to be the best and quickest treatment?

Thank you everyone

Sarah

BagerRMT · Answer

I have been diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia. Severe electric shocks that about 10 years ago started in my jaw and would move to the top of my head and to my ear/side of my head. Now when (past 5-6 years) I get them they start in my jaw and or ear (typically right side) and then it progresses to the side of my head behind my ear. I get these 3-4 times a year for about 4-7 days. IT is aweful. My doc prescribed Vaium at first- this helped. Then he actually gave me a diagnosis a few years back and started treating me with a herpes medication (ancyclovir/valacyclovir-sp?) as well as occasional muscle relaxers but really- nothing seems to help. 
My uncle, at age 65 was diagnosed with MS after he simply bleacked out/passed out. it seems he has had electric shocks for years and just muscled through them thinking they were headaches. 
I am scared I have MS. 
What meds work the best for occasional occurances? I don;t want to live on amedicatio n if I don't have to.

Freespirit24 · Answer

Thanks for the imput great info
 here is a link about the connection http://www.ihmf.org/journal/download/83simmons(60)vol860.pdf

Sarah

Quixotic1 · Answer

The links between MS and EBV & HHV-6 are varied and far more than having antibodies.  These two viruses are so common that about 95% og the population has antibodies to them.  Sometime I will do a post and describe the evidence there is for one of these viruses (and very possibly each of them in different people) as part of the triggering conditions needed to develop MS.  Another suspect bug, is Chlamydiae pneumoniae, which is a very common cause of bronchitis and pneumonia.

But there are clearly more factors than infections like racial and ethnic susceptibility, location (latitude) where childhood was spent vs. early sun exposure during life, getting normal childhood infections late in life, and (believe it or not) even month of birth. 

It's probably some combination of these factors, maybe different for different people that sets up a person to have MS.

Gollie - Good to see you reading along!  Yes, common infections that cause relapses are the common cold and urinary tract infections.  Also anything else that causes an activation of the immune system can do it also.  An example is vaccinations.  HOWEVER, don't go skipping vaccinations!  The diseases they prevent (like the flu) would cause much more severe relapses than the vaccine with its limited effect on just one part of the immune system.

Quix

LATW · Answer

I've had trouble with cold sores ever since I was 12 years old. They do not break out on my lips though. They can get as big as a silver dollar and affect my cheek up near my eye and have broken out as far down as my jaw. That is on my left side.

On the right side my of my face I have Trigeminal neuralgia and Optic Neuritis.

I had mono twice, once when I was 18 and again when I was 37.  I had Roseola when I was a baby.

I do have a DX of MS.

LA

Michela11 · Answer

And I can't even spell!! Sorry!!

gollie · Answer

Hi
I dont no how you do it, your always come up with the most
imformative post!!! Im still trying to lean as much as possible
about MS and what to watch out for  and what to expect ect..
so that I will no better on how to care for my health.
I didnt realize infections could cause relapse.  
Its a good thing to know.   I learn somthing new here everyday!

Hi Freesprit!! hope you are well                                 Gollie

Michela11 · Answer

Ah me ..... thanks Quix ... I was typing so slowly you put in all your great info before I could get it together!! I am home with the sodding flu today ..... and of course I should not be on the computer! Why can't MS make us immune to everything else???

Michela11 · Answer

Hi Freespirit, researchers are still out on links between the Herpes virus family and MS.

There are eight different viruses in the family. HHV-1 is generally for cold sores. You can find out general information on each at 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herpesviridae

I have antibodies for EBV and CMV in my system. There is a school of thought about the associations with EBV occurring as mononucleosis as a teenager (I for one had a severe case) and the later development of MS. But as mono/glandular fever is very common throughout childhood, research is inconclusive. Doesn't mean there ISN''T a link though!

I don't have any advice about cold sores occurring during a flareup, sorry. Is this happening to you? I never get cold sores - tough wood - so I don't even know how to treat them! :)

Quixotic1 · Answer

Hi, I'm just popping in here to add a little info.  MS is linked to two of the Herpes viruses, but neither of them are the cold sore virus which is Herpes Simplex Type I.  There are many, many different viruses in the Herpes family.  The first that has a strong link with MS is the Epstein-Barr Virus which also causes mononucleosis.  Most people have had this virus and don't get very ill from it.  The second in the Human Herpes Virus - 6, which causes the early childhood illness commonly known as Roseola.

The link is indirect.  It is not believed that the viruses directly cause MS, but may act as a trigger in susceptible people many years before the disease gets going.

For people who do get cold sores, yes, they can trigger relapses, especially if you tend to have a tough time with them.  The first day or two of a cold sore for me I get a fever, headache, and muscle aches. This indicates a high level of immune response to the cold sore.  But, many people get the sores without any other symptoms at all.  For those I don't know if that would trigger a relapse or not.

I just got over a relapse triggered by a cold sore.  Next time I feel one coming I will go immediately to an anti-viral like a short course of Valtrex or Famvir.

Any infection which causes an activation of the immune system (basically all of them) can cause a relapse.

Does this make sense?

Quix