Allodynia and “second primary” outbreak?

[Meggers23]

Hi all,

I’ve recently been diagnosed with genital HSV1. My primary outbreak was about 3 weeks ago, and was insanely brutal. Couldn’t walk, sleep, sit or stand to wear pants. Had minor flu symptoms but nothing too crazy just felt like a head cold with a fever. I took the 2g of valtrex for the full ten days, tons of salt baths and generally did everything I was told. Blisters were gone and not painful within 8 days of starting valtrex, and I felt like I was in the clear.

It’s been about a week and a half since I finished treatment and I’m in another outbreak. Not as bad blister wise, they’re in a  different area, less bumps, (still crazy painful) but this time I’m having insane skin sensitivity (allodynia) all down my legs, back and butt cheek. My right groin lymph node is also insanely swollen, tender and painful and about 3 days ago I noticed sections of my vulva were numb and now are the areas that blistered.

I figure it may be normal to have a recurrent outbreak so shortly after, but I can’t find any info on “secondary primary” outbreaks for lack of a term, especially for genital type 1. Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this, if the nerve pain/numbness is normal, and besides to take another round of Valtrex should I talk my doctor about anything? The skin sensitivity is to the point I can’t sit because I feel like my skin is raw, salted and on fire (also any recommendations besides Advil for that?).

On a more positive note this forum has been very helpful in accepting all this. Thanks in advance for your replies!!

[Cwgrl100]

I'm sorry you're going through this! I can tell you I've had the numbness and really bad skin sensitivity but I'm not sure how normal or common it is! I usually just take meds, hot baths, and ride it out. I hope you feel better soon!

[Kitten2015]

I found that icing really helps a lot! Drink tons of water to flush everything out and add L-lysine with a multivitamin helps. Hope you feel better soon!

[Elle27]

On 3/7/2019 at 1:19 PM, Meggers23 said:

Hi all,

I’ve recently been diagnosed with genital HSV1. My primary outbreak was about 3 weeks ago, and was insanely brutal. Couldn’t walk, sleep, sit or stand to wear pants. Had minor flu symptoms but nothing too crazy just felt like a head cold with a fever. I took the 2g of valtrex for the full ten days, tons of salt baths and generally did everything I was told. Blisters were gone and not painful within 8 days of starting valtrex, and I felt like I was in the clear.

It’s been about a week and a half since I finished treatment and I’m in another outbreak. Not as bad blister wise, they’re in a  different area, less bumps, (still crazy painful) but this time I’m having insane skin sensitivity (allodynia) all down my legs, back and butt cheek. My right groin lymph node is also insanely swollen, tender and painful and about 3 days ago I noticed sections of my vulva were numb and now are the areas that blistered.

I figure it may be normal to have a recurrent outbreak so shortly after, but I can’t find any info on “secondary primary” outbreaks for lack of a term, especially for genital type 1. Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this, if the nerve pain/numbness is normal, and besides to take another round of Valtrex should I talk my doctor about anything? The skin sensitivity is to the point I can’t sit because I feel like my skin is raw, salted and on fire (also any recommendations besides Advil for that?).

On a more positive note this forum has been very helpful in accepting all this. Thanks in advance for your replies!!

So sorry you’re dealing with this. I had a secondary outbreak right after the first and pretty consistently after that. Try coconut oil or jojoba oil on your vulva- some types of oil work better for people than others sometimes it’s trial and error to figure out what feels best for you. For ongoing sores I mixed jojoba oil with peppermint, tea tree and lavender essential oils and put it on the sores- has a numbing/cooling effect and brought relief from pain and itching for me. I started on lysine. I continue to have nerve pain during outbreaks and some times in between but it’s not as bad as it was in the beginning. I’ve heard that magnesium supplements can help also. Ice and laying in front of a fan helped with sores too. I was diagnosed in early September so it’s been about 6 months. It’s definitely better than it was in the beginning. I’m chrrently on 1 gram of valtrex per day because I was having non stop outbreaks. I’m hoping about after one year of having herpes I’ll be able to wean off medication. I have heard that after the primary outbreak it might be better to try to not take suppressive medication (daily) because it can prevent the body from forming antibodies against the virus,   and some people take it only when they are having outbreaks, or not at all. You can talk to your doctor and decide what is best for you. For me to be able to function and not be in constant discomfort I made the decision to take suppressive medication for now. 

I hope you experience relief soon! 

[Meggers23]

Thanks all, 

It took about another week but the nerve pain subsided. Definitely will try some supplements, and I’ve heard changing my diet could help too. Fingers crossed!