Well this is my first post here. And have yet to be diagnosed with lymes. Went to doctors yesterday with Bells Palsey, and tingling in left arm and doc. again drew blood. Had it done about a month ago, when I had viral symtoms. Results negative then. So doc yesterday started me on doxycycline
Last evening I had severe upper backand shoulder pain that kept me awake all night......Today pain is gone, has anyone else had the sever pain as I did?......I think it was the medicaton fighting back.
Posted by ChrisBtheLymie (Member # 8916) on :
Hi Fran,
I just wanted to say hello and welcome you to Lymenet. Are you seeing a proper Lyme specialist? What dose Doxy are you on?
I also have severe upper back and shoulder pain that comes and goes. I think back pain is a very common symptom and Lyme loves the joints like the shoulders, knee's etc...
It is very important to see a proper specialist as Lyme disease is NOT an easy disease to treat and it often needs different types of antibiotics, depending on how long you have been ill, and if you have coinfections.
Good luck
Posted by minimonkey (Member # 8693) on :
Hi and welcome!!!
I would guess that you are experiencing a herxheimer reaction (check out the newbies links for detailed explanation) and that is why your symptoms are flaring up on the meds.
Neck/shoulder spasms that lead to migraines have always been the absolute worst of my symptoms -- I had them since 1990 pretty regularly -- only now, with treatment for Lyme, are they slowly disappearing.
There is a ton of info on this board -- I'd suggest you read, read, read for a while! Also, as mentioned above, be sure you are seeing a lyme-literate doctor, as this is a hard condition to diagnose and treat. Bell's Palsy is a huge red flag for Lyme -- so I'd guess you are on the right track.
Posted by Fran Welch (Member # 9752) on :
No specialist, just my GP.....100 mg Diox, 2x daily......Like I said haven't been confirmed yet just pretty good symtoms, calling back Friday for results, Possiby if negative again, he may refer me to specialist
Posted by Aniek (Member # 5374) on :
I had that pain for 2 years straight. Muscle relaxers helped me.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by Fran Welch: No specialist, just my GP.....100 mg Diox, 2x daily......
That will not "cure" you if it's lyme....in my humble opinion.
The Lyme tests that the drs usually use are not very accurate and can miss MANY cases of Lyme.
Bells Palsy is most often due to LYME. I read a statistic on that the other day, but can't remember. I think it was like 85% of cases are due to Lyme.
I agree that you are most likely "herxing" from the doxy. That in itself can be diagnostic of Lyme.
REASONS WHY A SERONEGATIVE TEST RESULT MIGHT OCCUR 1. Recent infection before immune response 2. Antibodies are in immune complexes 3. Spirochete encapsulated by host tissue (i.e. lymphocytic cell walls) 4. Spirochetes are deep in host tissue 5. Only blebs in body fluid; no whole organisms needed for PCR 6. No spirochetes in body fluid on day of test 7. Genetic heterogeneity (300 strains in U.S.) 8. Antigenic variability 9. Surface antigens change with temperature 10.Utilization of host protease instead of microbial protease 11.Spirochete in dormancy phase 12.Recent antibiotic treatment 13.Recent anti-inflammatory treatment 14.Concomitant infection with babesia may cause immunosuppression 15.Other causes of immunosuppression 16.Lab with poor technical capability for Lyme disease 17.Lab tests not standardized for late stage disease 18.Lab tests labeled "for investigational use only" 19.CDC criteria is epidemiological, not a diagnostic criteria
