[Question #11370] HIV and Herpes concern

15 months ago

I don't know why this worry all of a sudden came to me but for the past 2 months I have had some slightly uncomfortable tingling on the soles of my feet, particularly my right foot. This definitely gets worse with putting on a specific pair of my shoes but seems to still be somewhat there when they are off. No pain or burning or anything just slight tingling that sometimes escalates for a brief second. This also disappeared for a couple of weeks but them came back. I am worried about an unprotected encounter I had about 7 months ago. I have read numerous times on this website that HIV neuropathy would not occur within a year. I am just slightly worried because I found this article (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4147038/) that said: Signs of PN were detected by detailed neurologic exam in 35% of men enrolled in a neurological study at a median 3.5 months after HIV transmission. PN during this early period may be mediated by systemic and nervous system immune responses to HIV. Also just some more random symptoms I had were tension headaches which were around the eye a week after exposure and also the globus sensation which felt like a bump in my throat. These lasted 4 days max. ALso have been worried about staticky feeling above my knees, random leg sensations, random sacral area sensations and perineum discomfort. These have been intermittant for 7 months. Does any of this at all sound like HIV or HSV? Is this article anything to be concerned about cause everywhere else I have read says it comes later?

Edward W. Hook M.D.

15 months ago

Welcome to our Forum. Thanks for your questions. This paper is a great example of why we urge our clients to avoid the internet. All too often what is found there is misleading, either because it is interpreted out of context, is out of date, or is just plain wrong. The paper you have found is over a decade old and does not reflect general consensus about the way newly acquired HIV behaves. The symptoms you suggest really are no suggestive of either herpes nor peripheral neuropathy. Further, when PN occurs soon after acquisition of HIV as it rarely does, it is a transient event.

I urge you not to be concerned. You do not say why you worry that you may be at risk but what you describe is not something to worry about. If my reassurance is insufficient, then test. If this were HIV, then your test will be positive (nothing you have described suggests that it would be positive). When symptoms are due to HIV, tests are always positive.

Please don't worry. EWH

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14 months ago

Thank you so much for the reply this makes me feel so much better. The reason I have not gotten tested yet is because I am studying abroad right now and don't really have access. I will test right when I get back though. Why do you think this doesn't sound like peripheral neuralgia either? I honestly don't know if it completely disappeared for those couple of weeks but I definitely had not thought about it. Usually the tingling is constant but the sensation ramps up in a random area sometimes I think I may have misworded that in the first post. The random leg sensations also lasted awhile with the static feeling above the knee being the worst one. This is definitely not a symptom of any STD for months as can't herpes cause neuralgia sometimes? It was probably just me being over aware of every sensation or anxiety causing the symptoms themselves just making sure to cover all bases. Also this sounds like a stupid question but the general consensus of researchers is far more accurate likely than this research study scientifically? Thank you so much for the help I truly appreciate it as it has helped calm my nerves significantly.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

14 months ago

If this were peripheral neuralgia, it would not have disappeared, but remained obvious. As you suggest on those occasions when we are anxious and on the lookout for symptoms, there is a tendency to become more aware of what are otherwise normal sensations. Certainly what you describe in no way suggests any STI. Please don’t worry EWH---

14 months ago

I am just a bit concerned because I do feel some random sensations in the left foot too and it’s kinda similar to the right foot and I don’t know why it would be like that. It also probably started at around a similar time and took place around the ankles as well when it did but this ankle pain has not returned. Still nothing to be concerned about?

Edward W. Hook M.D.

14 months ago

Once again I urge you not to worry. Having said that, given your level of anxiety, perhaps testing would be a good idea to prove to yourself that you were not infected. Since when symptoms are present, tests are ALWAYS positive, the negative result I’m confident you’ll get, this will prove that you don’t have HIV and you can move on.

The internet has not helped you here. EWH

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