Life After Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is a complex bacterial infection which can spread throughout the body causing a number of different symptoms. It is transmitted by the bite of blacklegged ticks and is prevalent throughout Europe and parts of America.  The Borrelia bacteria which cause the  infection can trigger inflammation in many different parts of the body including vital systems, organs and tissues.  This is one of the reasons why Lyme disease can be such a debilitating condition with wide ranging symptoms.

Black legged tick

Dealing with widespread infection can be difficult and this is why Lyme disease can be a complex condition to manage.  At the heart of any Lyme disease treatment is the necessity to eradicate the Borrelia bacteria which is causing the infection and inflammation.  The recommended treatment is currently a three to four week course of an oral antibiotic such as doxycycline or amoxicillin (a penicillin based treatment).  Studies have shown that a minimum 10 day regime of one of these antibiotics was enough in most cases to successfully clear up the main infection.  However this is only effective on cases of initial Lyme disease infection.  Once the bacteria has had a chance to spread throughout the system it can be much more difficult to deliver the antibiotics to the infection sites.  Intravenous ceftriaxone may be prescribed if there are any signs of infection or inflammation in major systems such as the central nervous system or brain. 

Treating Inflammation

Even during the successful treatment of Lyme disease inflammation can persist for weeks and in some cases can get much worse before it gets better.  This is why it is important not just to treat the main cause of the infection but also the side effects.  Inflammation resulting from Lyme disease can be painful and can also cause debilitating problems such as Lyme arthritis.  This is when the bacteria invades the joints causing severe inflammation and swelling, particularly in the knees.  There are a number of ways in which you can manage the symptoms of inflammation in cases of Lyme disease.  Many patients suffering from Lyme disease inflammation can respond well to holistic treatments and a change in diet.

Diet

A low-carb, low sugar diet has been shown to be effective at reducing internal inflammation in a wide range of conditions.  This is because the high levels of sugar and starch found in most modern diets can actually promote inflammation as they encourage the growth of bacteria and yeast.  These microbes cause inflammation because they excrete acids and toxins when they feed on complex sugars.  By cutting down on sugar and starch in your diet you can help to ‘starve’ these microbes and reduce the amount of toxins they produce, therefore reducing swelling.

Dietary Supplements

There are several supplements available which have been shown to be effective at reducing inflammation.  These include:

• Methylsulfonylmenthane (MSM) – this supplement needs to be taken in quite high dosages to be effective, but it is one of the safer dietary supplements.  It is well known for reducing inflammation and can be used to treat Lyme disease symptoms.
  

  Cats Claw

• Green Tea – you can take green tea in supplement form or drink it as a herbal tea.  It has been used for hundreds of years to treat internal infections successfully and recent studies have shown it can inhibit the growth of bacteria and yeast in the body, reducing inflammation.
• Salmon Oil – salmon oil is very high in Omega-3 fatty acids.  In particular it contains the fatty acids EPA and DHA, which have been found to reduce inflammation.
• Cats Claw – this supplement has been shown to significantly inhibit bacteria growth and reduce inflammation.
• Vitamin C - this is a common supplement and recent studies have revealed the powerful effects this can have in supporting healing systems in overcoming system wide infections.

Erythema migrans rash

It is widely recognized that there are three stages of Lyme disease, and a good basic understanding of the symptoms that present in these stages can help you to identity the presence of this condition so that you can seek treatment as soon as possible.   If you have been exposed to ticks by traveling in high risk areas such as woodland edges and grasslands then you should monitor your health for a few weeks following this exposure and note down any symptoms you may experience for your physician.

Early Stages

There are two main stages after the initial Lyme disease infection, and these are known as ‘early localized’ and ‘early disseminated’.  These first two stages present different symptoms such as:

• Early localized – one of the key characteristics of Lyme disease is the skin rash known as Erythema migrans (EM). This occurs in two thirds of patients between 3 to 30 days after the initial infection and manifests as a red mark on the skin (at the site of the tick bite).  This mark gradually expands in a circular fashion, rather like a bull’s eye and can be hot and sore to touch and multiple lesions can form in other areas of the body. Typically EM rashes fade after around four weeks, but this does not mean the infection is gone, but instead that it has moved onto the next stage.
• Early disseminated – once the Lyme bacteria begins to spread through the body (via blood and lymph systems) then other symptoms can begin to manifest. This typically includes a flu-like state, with symptoms such as fatigue, chills, fever, stiff joints, and a general feeling of being unwell, which can last for weeks.  The generic symptoms can be difficult to diagnose when they manifest without the characteristics EM rash, and many patients are incorrectly diagnosed.  At this stage some patients may experiences fibromyalgia, which cause symptoms such as muscle pain and joint stiffness and this can develop into Lyme arthritis if left untreated.  Neurologic abnormalities have been known to develop in around 10-15% of patients during the early disseminated stage of Lyme disease and this can result in conditions such as cranial neuritis (typically Bell’s palsy), and an inflammation of the brain known as meningoencephalitis (which resembles meningitis).

Late Stage

The late stage of Lyme disease occurs when the infection is left to spread throughout the system unchecked.  This stage can begin months or years after the initial infection and one of the most common symptoms is Lyme arthritis, which develops in around 60% of patients.  Lyme arthritis can be a painful and debilitating condition, and although it can be cleared up with antibiotics, long term exposure can lead to permanent damage to the lining of joints, and in particular the knees.  Chronic fatigue can also characterize the late stages of Lyme disease infections, and further neurologic abnormalities can develop including a variety of brain problems which can seriously affect mood, memory and sleep.

Treating Lyme Disease

Oral antibiotics such as doxycycline, amoxicillin and cefuroxime axetil can be effective at treating Lyme disease in the early stages, but once the condition has progressed then intensive intravenous antibiotic treatment may be required to target the widespread bacteria.  Most patients respond well to antibiotic treatment, although some may find that symptoms can persist for months or even years before they are fully recovered.

Lyme disease can manifest itself with many different symptoms which occur at various stages of the disease. Much also depends on the strain of Borrelia burgdorferi one is infected with and on the patients immune system.

1. Early Localized Lyme Disease
In the early stage of Lyme Disease, which occurs days to weeks of being bitten by an infected tick, one may experience a classic initial rash which looks like a “bull’s-eye”. This initial rash is called “erythema migrans”. When this happens the local skin around the bite develops an expanding red ring. There may also be an outer ring of brighter redness and a central area of clearing.  Patients often can’t recall the tick bite since ticks can be very tiny. Also, they may not have the identifying rash to signal the doctor. Many patients never get a rash at all. It has been reported that about 40% of Lyme patients never got a rash at all. It is very important to note that no evidence or recall of a rash does NOT mean no Lyme Disease to the clinician.

Early Localized Lyme Disease also frequently starts with flu-like symptoms such as headaches, stiff neck, fever, muscle aches, fatigue, muscle and joint stiffness, soreness in the jaw and swollen glands.

The rash (if present) resolves, without treatment, in about a month. Weeks to months after the initial bite from an infected tick, the bacterium and its effects spread throughout the body.

Symptoms of Stage 1 Lyme Disease:

• Rash
• Fever
• Headaches
• Stiff Neck
• Muscle and Joint Aches or Stiffness
• Fatigue
• Soreness in the Jaw
• Swollen Glands

2. Early Disseminated Lyme Disease
Early disseminated Lyme Disease is the second stage of Lyme Disease.  As the Borrelia burgdorferi spreads throughout the body, more and more of your systems can become affected.

At this stage it can affect the central nervous system and cardiac system. Symptoms can come and go and may disappear after days, weeks, or months.

The later phases of Lyme disease can affect the heart, causing inflammation of the heart muscle. This can result in abnormal heart rhythm and heart failure. The nervous system can develop facial muscle paralysis (Bell’s palsy), abnormal sensation due to disease of peripheral nerves (peripheral neuropathy), meningitis, and confusion. Arthritis, or inflammation in the joints, begins with swelling, stiffness, and pain. Usually, only one or a few joints become affected. The arthritis of Lyme disease can look like many other types of inflammatory arthritis and can become chronic.

Symptoms of Stage 2 Lyme Disease:

• Blurred vision
• Fainting
• Fatigue
• General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling (malaise)
• Headache
• Heart palpitations
• Joint inflammation in the knees and other large joints
• Lethargy/Fatigue
• Muscle pains
• Stiff neck
• Abnormal sensitivity to light
• Confusion
• Decreased consciousness
• Drooping eyelids
• Dysfunctional movement
• Facial paralysis (also called Bell’s palsy)
• Hallucinations
• Loss of muscle function and feeling
• Nausea and vomiting
• Numbness and tingling
• Speech impairment

3. Late Stage Lyme Disease
Late stage Lyme Disease is Stage 3 of the disease and can be very debilitating, greatly effecting the quality of one’s life. At this stage the Borrelia burgdorferi infection has spread into deep body tissues with the Lyme Disease possibly becoming chronic and very difficult to eradicate.

Symptoms of Stage 3 Lyme Disease:

• Chronic arthritis
• Joint inflammation in the knees and other large joints
• Memory loss
• Mood disorders
• Sleep disorders
• Abnormal sensitivity to light
• Confusion
• Decreased consciousness
• Numbness and tingling

It is critical to get a propper diagnosis as early as possible in order to stop the bacterium from spreading into the deeper tissues of the body. The further the infection spreads the more dificult it will be to rid oneself of this nasty persistent bug.