Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Could this be Lyme?

Hi,
I'm a 34 year old healthy male.
The past month and half I have a pins and needles in my feet, hands, actually they have appeared all over.
Since I first noticed them they have somewhat subsided and are fairly mild now but still there.
I also have mild muscular spasm mainly in my lower legs. By mild I mean that it is not the whole muscle that moves - it is just a small part of it. It almost look like a small pulse beat in the leg. Not sure if that makes sense the way I explain it - sorry. I have had blood work done: Comprehensive metabolic panel, vit B12, TSH, CBC w/diff and Sed Rate-West. Everything was within range.
Could this be a sign of Lyme disease? I don't remember being bit by anything and I don't have any rashes. if so, what test should I do. I have read about Igenex but I don't have easy access to it. Would one of the following test help?

1. Lyme Disease (Borrelia burgdorferi), PCR
or
2. Lyme Disease Antibodies, Including Reflex to Western Blot on Positives:
Most analytical approach available for detecting antibodies specific for lyme disease.Combination of IgM and IgM/IgG antibodies tests with reflex of positive results to Western blot confirmation. This is the most comprehensive LabCorp profile for Lyme disease testing, providing the broadest time window for detection and confirmation.

Note I'm also going in for a brain MRI to hopefully rule out MS....

Thanks in advance

IGenex
8 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
642304 tn?1242606724
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
It could also be Mycoplasma species, an airborne infection that doesn't require tick exposure although this infection is often in the same ticks that harbor Borrelia burgdorferi.  If the symptoms worsen to a gradual or cyclic loss of muscle function or uncontrollable muscle spasm and impairment of skin sensory function (often described as sunburned feeling, unusual tingling feeling, unusual rashes, needle ***** feeling, local pain, etc.), I would certainly look into being tested for both Mycoplasma species and Borrelia b. ProfGN
Helpful - 1
642304 tn?1242606724
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
A related discussion, Response to KTM377 was started.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi I am a 24 year old female. I have chronic stiffness(not so much pain) in all major joints. Ankles, Hips(worst), Shoulders and jaw. I get asleep feelings in my limbs very easily and often. Everything always feels inflammed and stiff. I get migraines which we have linked to my horrible allergies. Since I have been on allergy shots they have subsided. I have had tons of blood work done. Rheumatic, ana, crp, esr, ssb, ssa, everything all normal. MRI of brain came back normal. I havent had one of the back yet. I also always have stiffness in my neck and shoulder area it almost feels like there is alot of pressure(tension). The neuro thought ms but then after mri says fybromyalgia. But he aslo says i have neuropathy. My EMG's were a little funky in the ulnar area. (But i am a hairdresser and use my hands alot) I saw a rhuematologist and he still believes it could be ms. He has put me on medicine for Fybromyalgia to see how that goes before we do more tests. I'm so tired of all this it's been 4 years and slowly progressed. I also don't sleep very well. Does anyone have any ideas?

I posted this in the MS forum and they all said it sounded like lyme. I have never been tested but have had a tick or two before. No rash that i know of. but before all this i wasnt to perceptive. Should i ask for a lyme test?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi, I am a 26-year-old female and becoming desperate.  A couple years ago I discovered that I had a brain-stem lesion after getting an MRI due to intense headaches I was experiencing.  The neurologists I was seeing said that it probably is not a tumor since I had no other real neurological symptoms.  After a couple of years the lesion still has not grown.  A rheumatologist marked it up as vasculitis...
What is just as disturbing to me is the chronic pain I have throughout my body.  I have always had a high pain tolerance but over the past couple years my body feels like one big bruise.  I have pain to the touch on my arms, legs, hips, back (shoulders, lower back, and some areas along the spine).  Most recently, my hands go numb occasionally; it feels similar to if you fall asleep on your arm.
I am very tired of the constant doctor's visits; I was seeing four different doctors over the past couple of years and a diagnosis never got any closer; they would just prescribe me more medication to combat the headahes and 'muscle' pain.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
One more question: Based on my symptoms and a concern of having an autoimmune disease or cancer - would one or both of the following tests make sense for me to take:

- Cryoglobulin, Qualitative, Serum With Quantitative Reflex
Cryoglobulins may be present in macroglobulinemia of Waldenström, myeloma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, lupus, chronic active hepatitis, and other viral infections

- Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA) With Reflex
The reflex automatically runs additional specific antibody tests included in the panel if the ANA is positive.


Thank you so much for your time and guidance!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you. I got the test results from my MRI which was done according to the MS protocol with a 1.5T scanner. It showed no sign of MS or any other abnormalties. I also went and took some of the tests mentioned earlier and here are the results:

Lyme Ab/Western Blot Reflex/Lyme IgG/IgM Ab - NEGATIVE
Lyme Disease Ab, Quant, IgM - NEGATIVE
Mycoplasma pneu. IgG/IgM Abs - NEGATIVE
Mycoplasma/Ureaplasma PCR (by ViroMed) - No Mycoplasma DNA detected
Vitamin D, 25-Hydroxy - 46.3 ng/mL

I also wrote Igenex and they will be sending me a testkit that I can take to my physician.

I continue to have mild pulsations in my lower legs and some "weak legs feeling"
Though I'm able to exercise (run) etc. without any problems. Also the pins and needles are pretty much gone. This is soooo strange.......!

Based on this are they any other tests that you can recommend?

In advance - thank you so much!
Helpful - 0
642304 tn?1242606724
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The PCR testing is very sensitive but the microorganism has to be in the process of being shed into the blood to be detected. Therefore, most physicians rely on Western Blot analysis results, and I would suggest that your physician consider Igenex for testing.

The Mycoplasma testing is a different matter.  Antibody tests are not sufficient to detect this infection, and PCR should be used.  However, the same problem exists as mentioned above--it has to be in the process of being shed to detect.  Therefore, you should be at maximum symptom severity for the test; otherwise it may be in the process of being shed from cells and tissues.  The most common species associated with Lyme Disease are M. fermentans and M. pneumoniae.  However, some Lyme patients (not commonly found) have other species, such as M. hominis, M. penetrans or M. genitalium.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you! Which of the two listed Lyme D. tests would you recommend? The PCR or the extensive antibodies ($450!)
Also what kind of Mycoplasma test - pneumoniae or ureaplasma real-time pcr?

thanks so much!
Helpful - 0

You are reading content posted in the Autoimmune Disorders Forum

Popular Resources
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.