There is a clinic in Germany that is doing hyperthermia-treatment (or fever treatment) for cancer patients. They are also offering it for Lyme - and of course, they say it helps. As it is very costy I don't know anybody who has tried it yet.
As to heating pads: I always heard that we Lymies shouldn't use ELECTRIC heating pads - could make us worse but I don't know why.
Gabrielle
Posted by Aniek (Member # 5374) on :
Heat increases blood through to the muscles. You could be having relieved symptoms because you are getting blood to that area and that is helping the area heal, or helping to remove toxins.
There are people who believe high heat saunas can kill Lyme. I don't know about that.
Posted by Dave6002 (Member # 9064) on :
The improvement in the last week I would say is dramatic.
The residual symptoms don't bother me much and I am living a almost normal life now.
In addition to using heating pad, I also have been on Rifampin and Biaxin.
So I am still not quite sure if it's the heating pad or the abx combo or both that are responsible for the improvement.
However, I was on these abx before, although separately.
Many here are found out that Sauna and hot bath are helping.
I tend to think that consistent lower temperature would be more beneficial.
Looking at the picture, the horse must be wearing the heating blanket 24/7 for a cure.
Any I'll stick to this regimen for a while and see what happen.
Dave
Posted by GardenLymer (Member # 6008) on :
Hi Dave - Glad to hear you've found some relief. Heat helps me alot - I use home made moist heat pads w/ plain old rice. U can have someone who sews make u 1 in any shape needed for that body part. (A tube sock works well also, and all you need is to make a knot in the end of it.)
My favorite 1 is about 3 in's wide & 12 or 14 in's long - GREAT for spine or for calves, or wrapped around neck for headaches.
I can't get an electric 1 hot enough, plus the EMF's are not really great for you. Moist heat is more benefecial, and you can make them as hot as you need. Plus, cheaper on electric bill - they stay hot for quite a long time, and no cords to deal with. I even take mine in the car w/ me alot in the winter when I leave the house.
The spiro's don't like heat, it's good for sore muscles, bone pain, and circulation - it also helps decrease the twitches when they appear. Plus,it's just a cheap comfort! Give the moist heat a try, I'll bet you'll like it better than electric. Posted by hardynaka (Member # 8099) on :
I don't believe in cure with heat only, but nice to see it's helping. It also helped my joints (knee specially), but also my back.
I used though infrared light.
I am sure my back pain was from lyme as it got better with treatment (herbs, in my case). If I remember well, it was andrographis that did the job.
the IR light didn't cure the pain, but gave me relief when I needed. Specially before sleeping.
Selma
Posted by Dave6002 (Member # 9064) on :
Thanks, Garden- for the detailed info about how to make a moist heat pad.
It sounds very interesting and I would like to give it a try.
Selma, thanks for sharing your experience.
I agree with you that heat only may not be a cure.
Just wondering people living in tropical climate and without air conditioning still got Lyme.
I got the impression that Lyme like MS is more prevalent in the North.
Dave
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
diabetics should use only LOW heat due to our neuoropathy. dad could never tell and had full heat and slept on it a no no too.
yes, the old farmer's long socks would make good rice moist heat ones' i'll have to do that in future; would help with my wrist now. thx for tip. Posted by Aniek (Member # 5374) on :
Dave,
Our internal body temperature doesn't change with the environment. So whether we are in a tropical climate or the north, with our without air conditioning, our internal temperature remains the same.
Posted by hardynaka (Member # 8099) on :
Dave, as far as I know, there are a few cases of lyme disease in Brazil. The disease is not prevalent there though, but it's maybe because there are less infected ticks there than in the colder countries.
It's though true that the most infected areas are the colder countries here in Europe (Greece, Spain, Portugal and south of Italy are less infected). But maybe, it's just a matter of time to have it more widespread to the warmer climates?
Posted by 5dana8 (Member # 7935) on :
I really don't think I can use the word "cure"
at this point for me in my 21 years with chronic lyme & 12 years of total treatment
the word remession would apply better to me.
But glad to hear it's working for you Dave
That being said, moist heat feels sooooo good on the areas that give me the most pain~ my back, butt area & feet. It gives me some relief. Posted by hardynaka (Member # 8099) on :
Cave, I know some cases of people that got Chagas, that present some similar symptoms to lyme, but it's NOT lyme.
But they didnt' get it from ticks, but from much bigger insects that look more like cockroaches. These insects are widely known to transmit Chagas.
It's only recently that there's speculation that some ticks my carry the tripanossoma that causes Chagas.
There's no Chagas in southern Europe (that I know), and tick born infections are still not endemic there. But maybe it's just a matter of time?
Posted by Dave6002 (Member # 9064) on :
quote: Our internal body temperature doesn't change with the environment.
Aniek, I agree.
However the surface temperature would vary a little (I don't know how much and I haven't read research on it though) depending on the surrounding temperature.
Anyway, still a wild guess that the ketes like lower temperature so they live under the skin not far from the surface.
Or they would come to the skin for a vacation now and then.
After I fell ill, I had a lot of rashes and itches here and there and heating really reduce them.
Sometime I would think that Lyme is a disease of nervous system as well as a skin disease and the habitat changes may be critical to their life cycle.
And raising the skin temperature may create a hostile environment for the ketes and may interrupt their life cycle and finally kill them.
Dave
Posted by Dave6002 (Member # 9064) on :
quote: it's just a matter of time to have it more widespread to the warmer climates?
Selma,
This also puzzles me: is Lyme a emerging disease or man-made disease that is spreading from a certain place like HIV?
Many years ago for many years I ran and walked in the woods almost every day and I would get some bites here and there, but didn't care about insect bites at all, and I don't think I got sick from these bites.
Well, a couple years ago, I just worked a few times on a deer path, which I think is the cause of my getting ill.
So the spreading speed is astounding.
Dave
Posted by Dave6002 (Member # 9064) on :
Cave,
You are absolutely right: Lyme may represent a new category of diseases that have different but similar pathogens.
Probably that's why we are so different as to symptoms, responses to abx. etc.
And most mysterious diseases may have etiologic pathogens.
Just a guess.
Dave
Posted by Dave6002 (Member # 9064) on :
Bettyg,
I don't know about diabetic neuropathy and I was told before that heat is against neuropathy.
However, in my case heat seems helping the pains but still don't know why.
Dave
Posted by Dave6002 (Member # 9064) on :
Dana,
I am also glad for you that the moist heat helping you.
I admit the title of this thread is misleading.
I just wanted to attract people like you to come in and give advices.
Dave
Posted by pmerv (Member # 1504) on :
raising body temp "potentiates" the antibiotics, i.e. makes them stronger, maybe by weakening the spirochetes.
Posted by Dave6002 (Member # 9064) on :
Recently I got two major herxes ever after using the heating pad frequently about 2 weeks each.
On abx I got only minor herxes.
So the heating pad might be doing something big not previously recognized.
Right now I tend to believe that the heating pad plus abx may someday (would be very soon) cure me, or put me in remission.
However I would like to warn you if you want try this that you could get severe herx.
Each time I had to stop using the heating pad due to unbearable herx.
Posted by sparkle7 (Member # 10397) on :
This topic is of interest to me also. I found this amazing Korean
sauna in NJ - so, I've been going there for the last couple of weeks.
I read 2 posts about how raising the body temperature through
exercise (without drugs) can "cure" Lyme & this info was
attributed to Dr. B (ILADS). I looked for the reference but
couldn't find it anywhere other then here. Also, I read about the
use of abx & how heat can dialate the blood vessels making it
easier to reach all the "nooks & crannies" (so it works better). I
think the ticks with Lyme can't live in places where the heat is
higher then 105 (F) for 24 or was it 48 hours(?). So, they don't
like heat. I guess that's why some people came up with therapies
to heat the blood & raise the body temp (which ended up being
unsuccessful as I've read).
Posted by bejoy (Member # 11129) on :
I hot tub almost nightly at 106.
I'm very clear that this is not a cure for lyme, or I'd be herxing from these soaks much harder than I ever do.
If I stay in for more than ten minutes, I can raise my body temp to 101, but I simply don't like getting hotter than that, whether or not it may be good for me.
I suppose it may kill off bugs in the extremities, and in fact I have no extremity joint symptoms.
Mainly I do it for the hope that it helps kill some lyme, so that I can detox from a good sweat, and because it eases the muscles and is relaxing.
I understand this kind of heat could be dangerous for people with heart conditions.
Posted by Dave6002 (Member # 9064) on :
I think that it's low but consistent heat that is important.
This is a huge difference from traditional high heat but transient treatment of Lyme, which is dangerous and is not a cure either.
Posted by Ellie K (Member # 12056) on :
I didn't see this thread before posting on my Bucky pillow, but it looks like I'm not the only one into thermo-therapy...
Posted by je (Member # 14653) on :
quote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Our internal body temperature doesn't change with the environment. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I think thats wrong. I took my temp under the tongue before and after a bath just to see.
it went from 96 to 101.5
Then I took my dog out and came in and checked again 94.9. It was really cold that day.
Maybe the lyme affects our ability to regulte tempurature. I'll have to recruit a well friend and compare.
I think we should hold a Bb conference in death valley for a week and see how many recover. Posted by treepatrol (Member # 4117) on :
Specific Contraindications: (Do Not Use in Cases of) Pregnancy, Adrenal Suppression, Hemophilia
Do not use Thermotex Systems in conjunction with liniments
Cautionary Notes: Consult your health care professional before using Thermotex if you have any of the following:
Malignancy (including skin lesions) Circulatory diseases Using prescription drugs Recent acute joint injury Chronically hot or swollen joint Implanted silicone or silicone prostheses Metal implants
NOTE: These cautionary notes are a guideline only and not intended to replace a health care professionals advice. Should any negative reaction to Thermotex use occur, always discontinue use and contact your health care professional.
Bb have heat shock potiens that protectm. On the other hand extra blood flow helps your body do its thing.Go for it if it helps.
Posted by map1131 (Member # 2022) on :
Don't know if it's a "cure"? But sometimes just getting relief from our major symptoms is enough to get us thru another day of fighting this war.
I truly believe it takes a process from many angles and patience with a heck of a determination to win. Oh yeah and great medical/alternative support to guide you.
Pam
Posted by steelbone (Member # 14014) on :
What about this heating Pad. Covers more of your body so it might be more effective? Any thoughts.
I'll try anything if it help my back and hip pain.
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I think that it's low but consistent heat that is important.