LymeNet Flash: Can Herxing cause damage? Worried by recent MRI

This is topic Can Herxing cause damage? Worried by recent MRI in forum General Support at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by LaureenP (Member # 5052) on :

I have been on IV ABX for late-stage lyme 7 weeks now- 5 more to go.
2 weeks ago I had what I assumed were my first herxing reactions - there were new neurological symptoms (numbness, tingling on right side of my body from arm down to foot- pain to touch, heat sensations etc) on top of new knee joint pain and new muscle spasms in my calves.
Just to be safe, because my GP, my neuro and my LD, think I could have both MS and Lyme (original dx was MS- then got retested for Lyme and was positive IGG and IGM) I had new MRI done to compare to 2 others to see if any new lesions were there.

MRI Results: I have a new enhancing (active) leision in my upper cervical spine. Looks bad. My old lesions in the thoracic spine still there but not active.

My neuro says it supports his original dx of MS but that I could have both Lyme and MS since my western Blot was positive. My lyme doc says she doesn't know for sure but could be a new lyme lesion. Says she has never had this happen to a patient of hers.

What confuses me is why would a NEW lyme lesion appear 5 weeks after literally bombing my body with IV ABX?

Unless my neuro is right and it is MS on top of Lyme or a severe herx reaction that caused NEW damage.

Either way a New lesion in your CNS isn't good news.

Can anyone point me to a reputable source to find out if herxing can actually be bad for your body? My sister read something that said herxing is not necessarily a good thing and it can actually cause severe damage.

Thanks!