Can lyme pain be symmetrical?

[Drew967]

Hey guys, long time no see. I have another question about lyme...

Basically, I'm wondering if lyme pain can be symmetrical? Not all, but the majority of my symptoms have been the same on both sides of my body. This goes for pain intensity and locations. Like, when one side hurts, the other will hurt in the same way at the same time. And I hurt all the time.

I'm losing hope... I've read that this kind of symptomology points directly to Fibromyalgia. My LLMD diagnosed me with Lyme and Bartonella (based on positive Igenex test), but I'm worried I'm fighting the wrong battle. At first I refused to believe that I was sick for no reason; I am a 23 y/o male with no previous health problems. However, I'm almost 3 months into the heavy antibiotic protocol and I'm not feeling any better. Nor have I experienced any obvious worsening on any of the 4 different abx I've tried.

Can anyone comment? Maybe those of you who have been around here a while have seen other people posting similar stories?

[wonko]

I think it is expected for Lyme symptoms to be symmetric.  Lyme is systemic.  Compare this to something like MS.  In MS, symmetric symptoms are less likely, because the symptoms are caused by lesions/damage to specific areas of the nervous system.  

A lot of my Lyme symptoms were symmetric, like tingling/pins and needles in a glove/stocking pattern on both sides.

[carrie235]

Agree with all of you on the fibro/CFS thing.

Anyhow, just putting in that many of my symptoms are left sided or they were at first but I get joint pain (comes and goes) and other weird things on my right side too...

I have a positive Igenex lyme test but because my neuro thinks it's a crazy diagnosis (because my spinal tap was negative for lyme), I often doubt the whole lyme diagnosis....

I don't know......  

[mojogal]

The symmetry isn't important, everyone is different.

I agree with those above that things like fibromyalgia and lupus etc are really lyme.

[bdonahue7]

I'm In the same spot you guys are in. I'm feeling worse than when I started treatment 6 months ago. My LLND says the 1st year is very hard. I guess time takes time.

[Ephedra]

Yeah, I have mainly neuro stuff too.  

I would not doubt that every fibromyalgia case is lyme.  I, personally do not necessarily believe in fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, ect...  I think that they are just symptoms of an underlying condition.

Be grateful that you're not feeling worse, at least.  You're still early into treatment, so just hang in there...  I am in the same boat as you, 8 months into treatment and no improvement.  Someone with more experience may comment.  

I have just tested positive for Lyme.  I have not had any coinfection testing, but I plan on it.  I do expect Bartonella though as well as Babesia...

Just give it some time. Everyone's different.  

[Elleon_arual]

My pain is sometimes symmetrical and sometimes not.

I don't have much pain with this, mostly neuro stuff though.

Honestly, they say something like 85% of fibro cases are actually Lyme. For me personally, I believe almost every case is Lyme.

I am 6 months into antibiotic treatment and not feeling better. Not feeling worse but the few (very few) symptoms I've ever had with this are still there. The abx have done nothing to get rid of my symptoms.

Maybe there is another co-infection to deal with? Were you tested for all of them or just Bart?

[Ephedra]

Tick borne illnesses can cause a wide array of symptoms.  You think that the pain has to be asymmetrical to be caused by Lyme?  I don't even have a whole lot of pain and I tested positive for Lyme.  When I do have pain, it is typically my entire upper back or neck.  It's not just on one side.

I am 8 months into treatment and have been through six different abx.  I have not improved, nor have I experienced any obvious worsening of my symptoms.  Well I feel worse with the medication, but it's not necessarily a worsening of my symptoms.  I just think all this medication is not good on the body.  And I think it's the medication making me sick.  Keep pushing through it.  Not everyone experiences a herxheimer.  I'm not sure that there would be any real effective treatment for fibromyalgia anyhow.  Stick with the evidence you have (your positive IGenex).  

Not sure where everyone is these days around here.  There has not been very much activity.  

Good Luck!