I have had x-rays and an MRI which indicates that I have osteoarthritis in both knees. Could this have been lyme induced? I never tested positive for lyme and was tested twice (not Igenex). My doc felt the knee pain was due to lyme and I have been taking antibiotics since August. Since I received this diagnosis I have stopped meds. What are your thoughts on knee pain and lyme. My knees are also swollen and there is inflammation. I am responding well to physical therapy. What are your thoughts on me continuuing on the meds?
Posted by map1131 (Member # 2022) on :
Knee pain was my earliest sx of lyme. Both knees suddenly at 41 yrs of age were so painful, I could hardly make the steps.
I've never experienced any swelling, but many with lyme do. Knee pain is still present 10 yrs later, but thank goodness it's only during the lyme cycles now.
Why did you stop abx (antibiotics)with the lyme dx? Do you have other health issues? You'd be surprised at the symptoms that are related to lyme & co.
Did the doc rx abx because of knee pain & suspicion of lyme? Now, you don't think it's lyme due to long term abx that you thought would kill lyme & the pain?
Pam
Posted by AnneRoto (Member # 13363) on :
Yes, the doc suspected lyme due to a tick bite that I had gotten a few years ago. My knees really began to bother me in the spring of 08. I also was breaking out in a rash at the beginning of each month (doc thought that could be bart). The rash resembled poison ivy, not stretch marks. The abx were not doing anything for the knee pain. The only thing that has worked is physical therapy. I have stopped taking the abx because I thought that I had read somewhere that lyme would cause knee pain that would not be explained by a diagnosis. Since I am diagnosed with osteoarthritis I am wondering if I ever really had lyme. Since being off the meds my stomach no longer is in turmoil, my knees feel better, I am not fatigued. So the question is.........was the knee pain due to lyme or to osteoarthritis? Or can it be both? Can lyme cause osteoarthitis?
Posted by lymie68 (Member # 18442) on :
If you have osteo, you need to build up cartilage. Get a high quality glucosamine and take a lot of it. You might try green tea as an anti-inflammatory.
Posted by lpkayak (Member # 5230) on :
i'm sure my osteo arth in knees came from lyme-it started in my early 30's---too young for wear and tear
i got by as PE teacher for 10 yrs on high dose hig quality gosamine DS (purple and white box) and a lot of ibuprofen
also changed a lot of my life-no jogging or stairs---ended up in wheelchari for 8 months before both knees were replaced---stymie lymie here also had replacements-
surg was sucessful...but why stop abx? the ketes are everywhere-not just in your knees