Hello, I may have posted a few times and lurked some.  I have a serious
probem and can't afford to see my therapist right now, so I'm going to go
crazy if I don't talk about this and find out if other people are
experiencing the same.

My doctors think I'm nuts, which makes my emotional state worse.  I'm one
smidgeon from giving up completly on Western Medicine and seeking a Chinese
Herbalist, Acupuncture and nothing but Holistic Healing, Prayer and
Meditation.  I've had it with Doctors.  Even though I only "came out" a few
years ago, I've had the virus for 24 years.  It makes absolutely no
difference that I did not seek help sooner, they have NO answers.  I do not
wish to take suppresive therapy.  After seeing three Dr's, including my
OB/GYN whose test was negative, I finally got a positive for Herpes II from
an Infectious Disease Specialist.  Her nurse gave me the results over the
phone, which was fine with me because, of course, I already knew, but the
nurse said that, "She does not treat you for the symptoms unless you want
Valtrex." I said, "What about my headaches, etc.?".  She told me, "You have
to see another Dr." for that.  I was surprised, but I guess it's kind of
like the Psychiatrist, he only gives you the Meds and spends minimal time
talking to you.  The counselor or therapists spends all her time talking
things out, so again you have to pay two people.  I can't tell you how much
money my healthcare plan and I have spent on Doctor's in the last five
years.  It's incredible.  Not to mention I had a couple of major surgeries;
Resection of a benign tumor in my right temporal lobe 11-2001 and
Hysterectomy in 6-2002.

After contracting genital herpes I have experienced symptoms
Neuralgia/Neuropathy that are exactly identical to the symptoms for Post
Herpetic Neuropathy.  This has been going on for the last twenty plus years
starting somewhat in this order and progressively getting more severe.
Symptoms include numbness, tingling, crawling feeling, complete deadness,
pain, severe pain, all sorts of shooting pains like being stuck with a pin
everywhere there is a nerve, severe lower back pain, and there are more.
This started in the arms and hands twenty something years ago.  Now it is
starting in my legs and there is a general numbness and coldness to the legs
now when I sit on the couch.   When this started I was having these dull
muscle pains, like someone is poking you with a dull object, maybe the end
of a thumb all over here and there all up and down my legs every so
often.(This is what is going on in my legs, but it started the same way in
my arms).  This phase did not last too long until the numbness and tingling
started and then it has progressed now the point that my arms are always
asleep and I can't brush my teeth or blowdry my hair for more than five
minutes.  Yes, it's carpal tunnel, so the prelim reports say, but I'm
convinced this has something to do with the HSV.  I don't have any risk
factors for Carpal, I've only been typing for three years and I'm not real
fast.  I've lived with this for years in my arms because I figured there was
no cure, but now that it's in my legs, I'M freaking out.
  I looked up Neuropathy, PHN and all the symptoms for PHN fit EXACTLY
although I never had shingles.  Everything fits exactly to the T.  I even
have this head rush thing going on when I stand up which is symptom of
neuropathy and something with the heart.    I went to my neurosurgeon who
says it is NOT likely PHN.  He laughed at me, and this is a major research
hospital.  At least I thought they could think outside the box a little bit.
My doc said concentrate on getting your whole body healthy instead of
finding out WHAT it is because sometimes we never find the causes of these
type things.  He realizes I'm all upset about it, so I think that is GREAT
advice for me, and I'm going to try to do that   But what about all the
other people that have it.  Can't this be stopped or slowed down for herpes
sufferers?  He says that HSV II and shingles do not affect the same areas.
I HAVE an appointment to see my neurologist and see what he says about the
tests.  We did an EMG, needle tests in all my muscles, but it seems like
they did not find much.  They said everything was pretty good.  Prelim Dx is
carpal tunnel.  They only tested one side, but it's bilateral.  I'll find
out more when I see the Doc, but as of right now his next appointment is
March!  Trying to get in on a cancellation.

How many of you with HSV have any type of Neuralgia/Neuropathy; especially
in the arms?

Thanks for listening.
Godisus

Neuropathy forum
http://www.healthboards.com/cgi/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&forum=Neuropa
thy&number=90

http://www.neurologychannel.com/neuropathy/

I have one more link that had the specifics on PHN, but I'm still looking
for that one.