I had 7 days of steroid therapy before becoming suspicious of Lyme. Would this be considered "significant?" I've only had symptoms of disseminated Lyme for 4 months, which is still early as long as the steroids didn't really screw me over.
ISO a Virginia LLMD, btw. PMs appreciated .
Posted by fisherpunk (Member # 10406) on :
Actually, I'd see a good LLMD anywhere. My presentation couldn't possibly be more textbook, so I'm 90% certain that it's Lyme.
I did post on the "seeking a doctor" board, I just added that on as a corallary. I hope I didn't violate some board taboo by doing so.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
You're an RN?
I had treatment with steroids for at least 2 months, and followed that up with methotrexate, thanks to my rheumatologist! UGH!! Stupid duck!
Anyway, I'm doing great so I think you'll be OK too.
Posted by Andie333 (Member # 7370) on :
I had some early rheumatoid symptoms in my right knee. A sports duc drained it three times and shot it full of steroids (all this pre-Lyme dx).
I've now been on antibiotic treatment for just over a year. The pain gradually subsided in my knee and finally diminished completely about 2 months ago.
I still have residual swelling in my knee but the pain, for now, seems to be gone.
I should also say that my Lyme went undiagnosed for at least 9 years after bite and rash.
Hope this gives you some encouragement.
Andie
Posted by tdtid (Member # 10276) on :
Please clue me in here. I know and have learned the hard way about the steroids.
In the very beginning days of not knowing what was wrong while in the hospital, they gave me a steroid dose pack and said it would kick in in a few days.
I had never had had reason to doubt doctors at this time in my life, so I believed it and traveld to Florida for a wedding.
Instead I ended up in the E.R. down there with pain worse than childbirth. It was nightmarish.
Still no clue for many years, I was back and forth with the....must be lupus, no, it's M.S., nope, just fibro, circles.
So I still wasn't supcious and never knew what made me so sick. I mean I keep having attacks but that was worse than what I've dealt with, UNTIL....
Recently I was told to go to a physiatrist and he did an M.R.I. of my neck and said I had degenerative disk disease in the neck.
Sooooo...he sent me to get epidural steroid injections to help with my neck pain. About a month later,
I went back into worse than usual pain again. Coincidence? I haven't been diagnosed yet. Still waiting on blood work,
But with this said, I have been told if there is even a slight chance you MIGHT have lyme, do not take any form of steroids.
I was naive, tested negative on the ducks Elisa tests so never gave it a second thought. My N.D., sent me to a lyme specialist and here I sit.
So my question is, since this attack, whether steroid related or not, I'm not able to walk on my own at this time and have some major neurological problems.
Are you saying this may have some play in IF I test positive, that it will be harder with the antibiotics?
Cathy
Posted by lymie tony z (Member # 5130) on :
I can only give you a definite MAYBE on the affects the steroids may have had on your lyme...
You say you have'nt even gotten a positive lyme test?
I know that does'nt mean a whole heck of a lot...
I know for me...it made my lyme worse...they're immunosuppressants......
However I did get instant pain relief from a caudal block after my first knee replacement...
specific steroidal placement and topical and inhaled steroids may...MAY not affect lyme....
but I know for sure the orals did me a number....
and still do or would if I took them...I only do advil now...no anti-inflam stronger...and I don't like doing that...cept I have to do SOMETHING>>>
Sorry I can't be more specific Cathy.....
Punk...If you have had DISSEMINATED lyme symptoms for four months....that is not necessarily a good thing...
and the steroids you took may have helped the dissemination.... However...it's too late to worry about it now and it was probably insignificant anyway.
zman
Posted by timaca (Member # 6911) on :
ONE steroid shot to my knee activated latent lyme in my body. I was sick for over a year and a half before getting a diagnosis of lyme disease (from Dr. F). The orthopedic doctor had NO idea why I fell apart after the steroid shot.
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