I had great experiences and interactions in the past using this platform and I am back after a new exposure.

About 20 days ago I had brief unprotected vaginal sex (2-3 minutes) with a new partner who seemed to be low-risk (45yo, mother of 3, married for 17 years before divorcing). I know it wasn't wise on my part and at day 17 I got tested for gono, chlamydia, HIV and syphilis.

Negative for everything.

I was also examining myself carefully with a flashlight looking for symptoms (blisters, lesions) and I had none whatsoever.

What worries me though is that 6 days after the encounter I woke up with an unexplained low back pain that has been there since. The pain is affecting my lower disc (L5 S1 disc) and it's noticeable when I move or bend my back. It is not radiating down the leg and it goes away a bit when I lay down or if I take ibuprofen.

My questions:

1. Could herpes cause this without sores? There seems to be conflicting opinions about lower back pain and HSV-2. Does herpes back pain affect the disc without much leg and buttock discomfort?

2. Could HIV cause this? I have been tested a bit early (17 days)... do you suggest retesting considering my negative result and my partner low risk background?

Thank you

1.  While herpes can occasionally cause back pain ( very uncommon) in the absence of lesions this in no way suggests herpes.  Further were it due to herpes,, it would have improved by now.

2.  Your negative HIV test while the pain is present proves that this is not HIV.  as we’ve discussed in the past, when symptoms are due to HIV, tests are always positive.

I hope that your discomfort improves.  There is no reason to worry that it is due to an STI.  I see no reason for further STI testing.  EWH 

Pleasure to interact again with you and thank you for the reassurance. 

I'll try to put this incident in the past, although I have a follow up question:

When you mention that were it due to herpes, it would have improved by now, what is an approximate duration of back pain caused by herpes (in those uncommon cases)?

Would that start before or after the appearance of blisters?

Thanks again 

Ironically this morning the back pain seems to have improved a lot. Would that change your assessment about herpes-related back pain that improves after 10 days?

Thank you

This thread is now complete and will be closed.  EWH