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Are you having back pain with any of the following?

  • Severe pain, weakness or tingling in your leg(s).
  • Difficulty stopping urination or loss of control of bladder or bowels.
  • Unexplained fever, nausea or vomiting.
  • A history of cancer or unexplained weight loss.

We understand that you are experiencing one or more of the health issues that might be impacting your back pain.

We recommend that you discuss these health issues with your doctor before proceeding with this program.

Once you are cleared by your doctor to do this program, we hope it helps you find relief from your back pain.

Herpes

Overview

Herpes is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the herpes simplex virus. The herpes virus most often infects the mouth, anus, or genitals. Sometimes, herpes sores can show up around the nose, eyes, ears, or on the hands, breasts, or buttocks. It is very easy to give herpes to someone else.

There are two types: HSV-1 (oral herpes) and HSV-2 (genital herpes). Anywhere from 50 to 80 percent of Americans are thought to have oral herpes, while between 20 to 25 percent have genital herpes.

  • Oral herpes, usually caused by HSV-1, most often affects the lips, nose, or inside of the mouth. People often refer to these sores as "fever blisters" or "cold sores."
  • Genital herpes is usually caused by HSV-2 and is most often found on the penis, vagina, and anus.

It is important to understand that when you become sexually active, you can be at risk of getting an STD. This is true for all forms of sexual activity such as oral, vaginal, or anal intercourse.

Sexually transmitted diseases are caused by different bacteria or viruses that are passed between partners during sexual activity. Some STDs are easily treated with no long-term effects, while others can be carried for life or cause serious or life-threatening diseases.

Except for not having sex (abstinence), there is no sure way to avoid contracting an STD. You can reduce your risk of getting STDs by:

  • Limiting the number of your sex partners
  • Practicing safer sex
  • Using condoms correctly and consistently

If you are sexually active and younger than 25, we recommend you come in once a year to be screened for STDs.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

It can take 2 to 3 weeks for symptoms to appear. Many people with herpes have no symptoms. Symptoms could include:

  • A single blister or a cluster of blisters.
  • Blisters that may burn, itch, or hurt. Usually, they turn into open sores, crust over, and heal in 1 to 3 weeks.

The first outbreak is usually the worst. You may have a fever, swollen glands, a headache, or muscle aches. Or you may have such mild symptoms that you do not even notice them. Often, a person with herpes will notice tingling or itching at the site of infection a few days or a few hours before an outbreak. This is called the prodrome stage.  It is a warning that the virus is rising to the surface of the skin. You can transmit herpes during prodrome, even before you have any sores. Avoid sexual contact if you notice any of these symptoms.

If you are experiencing these symptoms or if you are concerned, contact us.

Testing for herpes

The best time to test for herpes is when there are sores or blisters on a person's body. You will only need to be tested once. If you notice a blister or sore, contact us immediately so the sore can be tested for herpes before it heals.

Blood tests for herpes antibodies are not very useful because most people carry antibodies to herpes—often from having had cold sores in childhood. The blood test will tell you only whether the virus is HSV-1 or HSV-2, not where herpes sores will appear. For these reasons, this test is not routinely ordered.

Causes and Prevention

You can get herpes when healthy skin touches or rubs skin that is infected with herpes. This can happen whether or not a sore is present. Kissing, oral sex, and sexual intercourse are the most common ways to transmit herpes.

The virus also can be moved from one body part to another. Because of this, it is important to wash your hands immediately after touching a sore. For instance, if you touch a herpes sore on your mouth and then touch your genitals, you can become infected with herpes on your genitals.

There are no reported cases of herpes being transmitted from toilets, hot tubs, or towels.

You can prevent contracting herpes by avoiding direct skin contact with someone with an active sore. Since herpes can be transmitted through sexual contact, using condoms when you have sex can protect you from infection.

Talk with your partner

Talk openly and honestly with your partner about your risk for STDs and the importance of safer sex. Remember that a person can be infected with an STD without knowing it. Be clear about what you will and will not do sexually. Also, respect what your partner will and will not do. Decide together what is right for both of you.

Find Help if Your Partner Has Ever Hurt or Threatened You

Unfortunately, abusive relationships are common. Abuse can include pressuring or forcing you to have sex, or refusing to use a condom to protect against pregnancy or STDs. If you think you are being abused, you can get help by talking to us or you can:

  • Contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline, 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-787-3224 for hearing/speech impaired.
  • Visit the National Sexual Assault Hotline or call 1-800-656-4673.

Protect Yourself With Condoms

The only certain way to prevent getting an STD is to abstain from sex. If you do choose to have sex, using condoms correctly and consistently is the best way you can protect yourself.

  • Condoms can protect you from pregnancy and many STDs, even HIV.
  • Most drugstores and supermarkets carry condoms.
  • Condoms must be used before the start of any sexual contact to be effective in preventing pregnancy and STDs.

Risk Factors

Herpes and pregnancy

We ask all pregnant women to inform us if they have any history of herpes.

If you are pregnant, you should take extra care to avoid getting infected. You could pass the infection to your baby during delivery, which can cause serious problems for your newborn. If you have an outbreak near your due date, you probably will need to have your baby by cesarean section (C-section). If your genital herpes outbreaks return again and again, we may talk to you about medicines that can help prevent an outbreak during pregnancy.

Herpes can be a serious problem if a woman gets genital herpes for the first time during the third trimester of her pregnancy. The unborn baby can become infected and will need treatment right after birth.

During the third trimester of pregnancy, herpes-negative women should use condoms and take special precuations if their partner has herpes.

Treatments

Herpes can not be cured, but it can be treated. Once you are infected with herpes, the virus will always be in your body. Treatment can help reduce the number of days that an outbreak will last and decrease the frequency of outbreaks. Medications can:

  • Relieve the symptoms.
  • Make the outbreaks shorter.
  • Prevent future outbreaks.

If you have occasional outbreaks, you can take medicine for 5 to7 days, starting as soon as you feel an outbreak is about to happen. If you have frequent outbreaks (more than 6 in a year), you may take medicine daily to reduce the frequency. The medication is safe, inexpensive, and well tolerated.

Here are some ways to keep your immune system strong and decrease the number of outbreaks:

  • Make sure you are getting enough sleep.
  • Manage your stress well.
  • Eat a healthy diet.
  • Exercise regularly.
  • Avoid smoking or drinking excessive amounts of alcohol.

Additional References:

If you have an emergency medical condition, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. An emergency medical condition is any of the following: (1) a medical condition that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that you could reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical attention to result in serious jeopardy to your health or body functions or organs; (2) active labor when there isn't enough time for safe transfer to a Plan hospital (or designated hospital) before delivery, or if transfer poses a threat to your (or your unborn child's) health and safety, or (3) a mental disorder that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity such that either you are an immediate danger to yourself or others, or you are not immediately able to provide for, or use, food, shelter, or clothing, due to the mental disorder.

This information is not intended to diagnose health problems or to take the place of specific medical advice or care you receive from your physician or other health care professional. If you have persistent health problems, or if you have additional questions, please consult with your doctor. If you have questions or need more information about your medication, please speak to your pharmacist. Kaiser Permanente does not endorse the medications or products mentioned. Any trade names listed are for easy identification only.



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