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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Is this potentially still Lyme Disease?
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Is this potentially still Lyme Disease?
by Brodie, May 21, 2005 12:00AM
I was treated for Lyme Disease last September after a clinical diagnosis - no test done. I had 21 days oral doxycycline 200mg per day. It helped a lot but I suffered bad rigours several times in the second week of treatment. Just at the end of the course, I started getting numb sensations on my forehead and I seemed to be taking quite a long time to start to urinate. This still comes and goes - but for the past 3 months I have also been gradually feeling more and more odd sensations and pain. My hearing is often very sensitive, I have a very painful leg from knee to hip (can't tell if it is joints, muscles or what - seems like the lot) and one arm is also sore from shoulder to elbow. I get 'cold' patches on both. I also feel 'tickling' sensations over my scalp, at the bottom of my spine and behind my knees. My doctor says it cannot still be Lyme and I am waiting to see a neurologist. I just think it would be a very odd coincidence if all this started happenng just as I was being treated for Lyme but had nothing to do with it. Any views? I am really worried.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-PW, May 24, 2005 12:00AM
I cannot comment on whether you had Lyme disease or not as I do not kow how they clinically diagnosed it, or have any results of testing
IF nerves were damaged during the course of the disease ie before treatment , it may take a relatively long time (weeks to months) for nerves to grow back/repair. This may explain the residual symptoms. Its not clear whether you had an MRI scan - this may need to be done to detect any spinal cord lesions causing difficulty in urination and/or signs of spinal root compression. Lyme can affect the spinal cord root (polyradiculopathy) and this may be causing your limb pain, an EMG would help to confirm a peripheral nerve or root problem
Discuss doing these tests with your neurologist
Good luck
IF nerves were damaged during the course of the disease ie before treatment , it may take a relatively long time (weeks to months) for nerves to grow back/repair. This may explain the residual symptoms. Its not clear whether you had an MRI scan - this may need to be done to detect any spinal cord lesions causing difficulty in urination and/or signs of spinal root compression. Lyme can affect the spinal cord root (polyradiculopathy) and this may be causing your limb pain, an EMG would help to confirm a peripheral nerve or root problem
Discuss doing these tests with your neurologist
Good luck
Many many people (actual patients -- NOT doctors) are living proof that 2 weeks of doxy often does NOT cure Lyme. Go to http://www.lymenet.org Read the posts under Flash discussion - Medical and post under Seeking a Doctor. You need to find a LLMD -- Lyme Literate Medical Doctor.
Best wishes