I don't think the virus sitting in nerve roots is harmless.

Look at the horrible pain some people get from shingles that does not go away after the lesions heal.

What changes is that we cannot see the results of the virus infection on the skin. But the virus is with us always.

Herpes virus can enter the brain...causing an encephalopathy.
http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/Herpes-Encephalitis.htm
This may be more likely for people with poor blood brain barrier function (gluten intolerance, or other autoimmune problems).

So since you know you have herpes, latent or not, I'd start with l-lysine which competes for l-arginine the virus uses to replicate.
The ratio of these two amino acids is thought to control virus activity. You want to avoid l-arginine and have more l-lysine in your system.
http://www.herpes.com/Nutrition.shtml
I used to see the elderly in nursing homes have shingles outbreaks when they were given Arginine supplements for healing bedsores.

You can also try cold packs along your spine. Cold inactivates and sequesters, but does not kill, herpes of either type.
Put the packs on 20 min to a 1/2 hr to the lumbar area for the legs, and the lower neck area for the arms. See what happens.

I've always used cold for my right neck zoster pain. It seems to really help.