HSV 2 and Sciatica

[Caliope]

Did you know or have you heard that hsv 2 infections can be the cause of sciatic pain?

I was researching on line about hsv and our nervous system and I came across several medical articles touching on hsv 2 and sciatica.

A light goes on in my head - I think back in time - many years ago to when I was having constant problems with intense sciatic pain. this precedes the time when I think I may have been infected with hsv.

I had sciatic pain for probably 5 years and it was very bad but I never had herpes ob's, never suspected I'd been infected with hsv, and never heard my husband mention any ob's or sores or any affair. But soon after the sciatic started I started to have genital itching and it continued for years until I was diagnosed with hsv and started on antivirals.

10 years back I finally thought I'd found a cure for the sciatica by going to a person who did "Bowen Treatments" (for those who aren't familiar it is like massage therapy and similar to chiropractic but they don't twist or crack you they use pressure points to realign your spine by manipulating muscles and nerves) the treatment made the pain go away almost instantly - I think I had 2 treatments in the course of one month. Now I'm thinking - was the sciatica really caused by the hsv and why did the "Bowen" stop it and maybe I should be getting "Bowen treatments" again.

Other thought I was diagnosed with hsv in January because I had an ob. Just this past September I was in a bad auto accident and I've had major back pain which could be contributing to weakening the nerves of my sacral ganglia which is where hsv 2 lives. Could the ob be connected to the auto accident?

For those who are familiar with sciatica the drs say if the pain goes from your low back to your knee it is sciatica but if it goes to your toes and causes them to become numb that is likely to be from a slipped disc or disc injury and really needs to be treated by a dr.

Just a thought. Anyone out there have sciatica and hsv2? It's something to think about.

[gutted.]

i get a numb pain at the tiop of my "ass cheeks" alot since getting this??

hmm you have got me thinking now!!

[bristolgal]

I get sciatica with herpes REALLY BAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've got it now, my right big toe is burning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Its not just your bum where you can get it, it spreads up my lower back and goes all the way down to my toes. And it breaks my heart because I havnt found anything that eases the pain yet.

Its not very common, out of the 1 in 10 people wqho have got herpes, only 1 in 4 of them know about, 50% of the 1 in 4 have a 2nd outbreat, and out off the 50% that have a second outbreak one in 6 get sciatica.

This equates to 2% of the population that know they have herpes having sciatica as well!!!!! (or 0.20834% of the entire population have both)

[Caliope]

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[Shayna]

This kills me because when I think back, the guy who gave me HSV was having Horrible sciatic pain!! ... I mean sometimes he would lay on the floor in tears wrything in pain. Many times he couldn't go to work it was so bad, really bad!

I never dreamt it was related to HSV, because I knew absloutely nothing about HSV at the time! In retrospect there were many things that would now show me red flags that he likely had it.

Anyway, when he was at his worst, and couldn't work from the pain, I bought him some special shoes called z-coils, they have spring heels and that helped him a lot. I also took him to my chiropractor and after a number of treatments he was nearly pain free.

Strange thing, I had always dated accomplished men but somehow I felt a need to try and fix this guy

And my thanks was a life long subscription to Herpes

I'm such a Dolt!

Sorry I went on a rampage! I think this should have gone in the rant section...Feel free to move or remove

[ouch]

I posted something about this a while back, because what I was noticiing was that when my sciatic nerve was acting up (it gets so bad, I can't WALK, and I have shooting pains up and down my leg) I would also usually end up with a herpes outbreak shortly thereafter.

NOW...I have had this particular back problem for many MANY years. Long before ole herpes can into my life. BUT...I think when that nerve gets pinched, it triggers the dormant virus in my spine and causes me an outbreak. Makes absolutely perfect sense.

Also, I think when the virus decides it rear ITS ugly head, it irritates my already irritated sciatic nerve. it is a vicious circle.

So yeah, this totally makes sense to me, and I remember talking about this in a post a while back because I had ONE episode, where my back hurt so bad, I couldn't move, walk, sit, piss, nothing. My man was ready to call an ambulance. I told him no, get me a heating pad, some motrin and get me into a chair...eventually it mellow out a bit, BUT I was down for the whole weekend. SHORTLY thereafter, I had a MONSTER outbreak. Coincidence? I think not.....

Moral of the story...take LOTS of pain pills! (hahahaha! Just kidding!)

[Caliope]

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[ouch]

I THOUGHT it was you and I caliope talking about the ole Sciatic nerve/back problems.

I am old and forgetful now, and couldn't remember who shared my funfilled back pains with me! hahahaha.

I know exactly what grand sports I partook in to cause my back problems, but I also have a cogenitive back/hip disorder. I had it probably since childhood, and it is exasperated by things like pregnancy, excessive weight gain/weight LOSS...(obviously, it is better to be FIT and to lose weight, but the shift in weight can aggravate that nerve until you stabilize your weight and strengthen your back muscles)...but I DO totally agree that the herpes virus ALSO gets in there and aggravates that already damaged nerve. And Visa versa.

Over the years, via physical therapy and trial and error, I have learned certain stretches and things I can do to HELP the pain. Swimming is the BEST overall. Stretches ALL the muscles, joints, tendons AND spine and feels divine. Yet, you are getting a GREAT workout with minimal impact on said body parts, thus, negating any potential injury. Afterwhich, either going into the hot tub and relaxing, or a nice hot shower can help as well.

When my back is REALLY aggravated, I too use heat wraps to help ease the pain. Try not to do to much in the midst of a "spasm" then as soon as the intense pain subsides, I start the stretches. VERY carefully.

but it sucks, because in the midst of these REALLY bad back spasms, is when I usually have a pretty bad outbreak. SO THEN we have to contend with our messed up back AND our sore nether regions. Bummer.

But I still try to do all the things I love. Maybe not as fast and nimbly as I did like...20 years ago, but I try my best!!!

[Caliope]

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[Justdesserts]

I think you have just confirmed something I have been thinking about when I heard how the virus travels around the lower body .

I had five months off work with Sciatica or a slipped disc depending who I talked to . The pain went from my left shoulder to my left foot and occasionally on my right side of my body. This was about three years ago but I have just had my first OB in October when my body was feeling the best I have felt in years .

[ouch]

26 eh!!? Wow that is great!! They are ALWAYS our babies, aren't they. No matter what age!!

And you are SO right, exercise is an EXCELLENT way of combating hsv. I think between the oxygen coursing through our bodies AND the endorphins that kick in as well, it is a lethal combo for the ole herpes virus.

I haven't been working out enough the past year....and I FEEL it. I am sure this also contributes (along with a yukky diet) to any outbreaks I have had this past year. Add the old beat up back into the mix and VOILA!!! Troubles!

Eat well, and work out. We should ALL be doing this anyways, but especially those of us with herpes.