replaced joints and Lyme disease

[wjgiunta]

Having multiple joint replacements, are there additional concerns or procedures required if I get lymes disease or a tick bite?

[Weesy68]

Probably the best thing you could do is just to educate yourself on the symptoms of Lyme so that if you are ever bitten or you have the symptoms without knowing if you were bitten, you can be treated within the first 6 weeks which is the crucial time to be treated for Lyme.  The majority of cases can be cured within that time frame.  Unfortunately, you cannot rely on physicians to diagnose this unless they are Lyme literate.  Many have been led to believe Lyme disease is rare and even doesn't exist in certain states such as the one I live in, Utah.  I have Lyme disease.  It does exist in Utah.  I have no doubt it is under reported since the guidelines by the CDC are set up so that many Lyme patients will not be considered positive by the CDC and therefore are not reported.  One of the best sites to learn about Lyme is ILADS.  There is also a movie out as we speak called, "Under Our Skin."  This should be released soon to DVD and you can order a copy. I saw this and it is an amazing eye-opening movie. I suggest everyone see it.

[patsy10]

I would ask your doctor.  I'm not sure if lyme can get into an artificial joint but I know other bacteria can and lyme can invade the other tissues around a joint.