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Suggest Treatment For Backaches And Tingling On Left Hip
Question: Hi I'm concerned I may have Herpes II. I've had two new sexual partners. One encounter on Nov 11th and another this last Tuesday, Dec 2nd. I used a condom for oral and vaginal sex in both cases. Neither partner exhibited any outward signs of a Herpes infecton. On Nov. 18th I got a bad headache that went away with IB profin. A had a mild re-occurance the next day but again IB Profin took care of it. I felt normal for about a week. Then on Nov 24th I got a fever/muscle aches with light throat congestion/light cough. The fever came and went but was mostly gone in about 5 days though I still had a light backache for a day or two. I felt normal for 3-4 days and now today Dec. 5th, I noticed a tingling on my left inner hip, just an inch or so outside my pubic hair region that's been semi constant for about 10 hours. No signs so far of bumps, sores, or blisters, no other symptoms right now at all. How likely is this Herpes? If not, what else could it be?
Brief Answer:
Non-specific symptoms are not reliable
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thanks for writing to us at healthcaremagic
I have gone through your query and I have understood it.
Regarding the type of recent sexual encounters that you have had, I must tell you that protected sex is not a guarantee against genital herpes because condom covers only the business end of penile shaft and therefore may leave the base of shaft as well as the rest of the pubic region uncovered. Therefore the virus can transmit through skin to skin contact.
I mean to say that herpes can be transmitted despite protected sex and therefore your concern is absolute genuine.
Regarding the symptoms these are totally non-specific and in my view your November symptoms (fever and muscle aches) most likely were related to throat Infection.
The tingling that you feel right now is also not a predicament that you indeed have herpes unless you have a clinical outbreak.
The tingling sensation could be entirely unrelated. It could be due to muscle fasciculation Or compression of a superficial nerve.
Having said that genital herpes has an incubation period of 2-12 days; therefore you are not yet out of that range.
I mean to say that a clinical episode of typical herpetic sores is the only clinically reliable evidence of genital herpes and all other symptoms are unreliable.
I would suggest you to get a blood test for herpes i.e ELISA for HSV type 1 & 2 (IgM and IgG). This would reveal the presence of antibodies against the virus.
This test can be done earliest at about 2 weeks after your last sexual activity.
Of course, in the meantime, if you develop clinically visible sores you must get yourself checked with a specialist.
Regards
Non-specific symptoms are not reliable
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thanks for writing to us at healthcaremagic
I have gone through your query and I have understood it.
Regarding the type of recent sexual encounters that you have had, I must tell you that protected sex is not a guarantee against genital herpes because condom covers only the business end of penile shaft and therefore may leave the base of shaft as well as the rest of the pubic region uncovered. Therefore the virus can transmit through skin to skin contact.
I mean to say that herpes can be transmitted despite protected sex and therefore your concern is absolute genuine.
Regarding the symptoms these are totally non-specific and in my view your November symptoms (fever and muscle aches) most likely were related to throat Infection.
The tingling that you feel right now is also not a predicament that you indeed have herpes unless you have a clinical outbreak.
The tingling sensation could be entirely unrelated. It could be due to muscle fasciculation Or compression of a superficial nerve.
Having said that genital herpes has an incubation period of 2-12 days; therefore you are not yet out of that range.
I mean to say that a clinical episode of typical herpetic sores is the only clinically reliable evidence of genital herpes and all other symptoms are unreliable.
I would suggest you to get a blood test for herpes i.e ELISA for HSV type 1 & 2 (IgM and IgG). This would reveal the presence of antibodies against the virus.
This test can be done earliest at about 2 weeks after your last sexual activity.
Of course, in the meantime, if you develop clinically visible sores you must get yourself checked with a specialist.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your answer.
I know odds are pretty low to get Herpes if there's no sores/bumps/blisters on a partner and a condom is used. But I am aware that asymptomatic shedding occurs and can happen outside the range of the condom.
I just wondered if such a staggered timeline is normal for herpes. The headache being a week away form my other symptoms I thought was due to stress at the time. The fever I initially thought was due to Flu season as I'd been out and about in many public spots the weekend prior. The tingling... which feels like a 2 inch long thick hair or string lightly chaffing my skin in the inner hip, lightly comes and goes, but usually I don't feel it much when I sit still. There's nothing I can see causing this however... though before the tingle started, the elastic of my underwear slipped awkwardly in my sleep, which I initialy assumed was the cause though I cant explain why this sensation is lasting so long since then (now almost 12 hours).
I'll keep en eye to see if any blisters develop. Even if they don't I will get tested to be sure once I pass the 2 week mark from Dec. 2nd. You have made me breathe a little easier in the meantime though.
I know odds are pretty low to get Herpes if there's no sores/bumps/blisters on a partner and a condom is used. But I am aware that asymptomatic shedding occurs and can happen outside the range of the condom.
I just wondered if such a staggered timeline is normal for herpes. The headache being a week away form my other symptoms I thought was due to stress at the time. The fever I initially thought was due to Flu season as I'd been out and about in many public spots the weekend prior. The tingling... which feels like a 2 inch long thick hair or string lightly chaffing my skin in the inner hip, lightly comes and goes, but usually I don't feel it much when I sit still. There's nothing I can see causing this however... though before the tingle started, the elastic of my underwear slipped awkwardly in my sleep, which I initialy assumed was the cause though I cant explain why this sensation is lasting so long since then (now almost 12 hours).
I'll keep en eye to see if any blisters develop. Even if they don't I will get tested to be sure once I pass the 2 week mark from Dec. 2nd. You have made me breathe a little easier in the meantime though.
Brief Answer:
Testing for herpes is advisable
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Yes, the chances are less but it would be better to get yourself tested for herpes and put everything to rest.
The itch/tingling in groin and chaffing could be due to developing tinea/fungal infection. This area being particularly prone to develop fungal infection.
I would suggest that you use an OTC topical antifungal e.g clotrimazole 1% cream, twice daily at this site.
An OTC Oral antihistamine e.g cetrizine 10 mg once daily will provide you symptomatic relief from itching.
Regards
Testing for herpes is advisable
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Yes, the chances are less but it would be better to get yourself tested for herpes and put everything to rest.
The itch/tingling in groin and chaffing could be due to developing tinea/fungal infection. This area being particularly prone to develop fungal infection.
I would suggest that you use an OTC topical antifungal e.g clotrimazole 1% cream, twice daily at this site.
An OTC Oral antihistamine e.g cetrizine 10 mg once daily will provide you symptomatic relief from itching.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi,
The tingling is a very localized area just outside my pubic hair region around the trouser waistline on the left inner hip with a mild consistent but intermittent tingling only. No itching. But duly noted on the cream. I'll give it a try.
Will get tested next week and keep my fingers crossed. Im aware even if no blisters form it's possible to have a tingling only and still have the virus so I will get peace of mind
The tingling is a very localized area just outside my pubic hair region around the trouser waistline on the left inner hip with a mild consistent but intermittent tingling only. No itching. But duly noted on the cream. I'll give it a try.
Will get tested next week and keep my fingers crossed. Im aware even if no blisters form it's possible to have a tingling only and still have the virus so I will get peace of mind
Brief Answer:
All the best
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Sure. Keep me informed.
Regards
Take care
All the best
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Sure. Keep me informed.
Regards
Take care
Note: Consult a Sexual Diseases Specialist online for further follow up- Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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