Started Omnicef/Amoxicillin, Miniocycline and Flagyl about 10 day ago and the pain in my forearms and a triger point in my back has disappeared after many months. What is concerning me is that I am loosing strenght in my wrists. It is difficult to type or do the simplist things with my hands like hold a coffee cup... but there is no pain! Last night I noticed muscle twiching in these areas, which I hope was the muscles relaxing. Was woundering if anyone else has experienced the weakening of hand and arm muscles as a result of a herx? Not sure if I am over doing hand exercise or not doing enough. Any thoughts are appreciated. Be well. Thanks, fog
Posts: 27 | From Santa Cruz, CA USA | Registered: Apr 2004
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Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
I have hand and wrist weakening from wearing wrist braces too long. (I was wrongly diagnoses with a repetitive stress injury prior to the Lyme diagnosis).
It took a long time to regain strength. I also had pain worsened by the weakness.
I gradually began reusing my hands. I actually found typing, in an ergonomically correct position, helped. For me it was a light movement that loosened up the muscles.
I also had hands on physical therapy releasing trigger points in my back, that for me only worked in combination with a muscle relaxer. But you seem better than me, as I had constant pain in my back, hands and wrists at that point.
Finally, I had to relearn to use my back and shoulder muscles. I was not using my shoulders properly, so my hands and forearms had to compensate. I worked with my pt on this stuff.
Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
Thanks Aniek, hope you are feeling beter now. I started to work with clay and might be overdoing the hand exercise. I've learned to mouse with the left hand, thinking I might have a repetitive stress injury. I am afraid if I don't use it, I'll loose it. It seems so much of beating lyme is having enough faith in the treatment to stick with it.
Posts: 27 | From Santa Cruz, CA USA | Registered: Apr 2004
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Your last sentence couldn't have been said better. Faith is put to the test.
My Dr. tells me he wants me to work out like I'm training for the Olympics. From that, I gather there's no "over-doing" exercise when working toward rebuilding your muscle strength! Keep it up!
I was referred to as the energizer bunny, always movin' and doin'. I was diagnosed with ALS, this summer (40 yrs old), before finding my Lyme specialist in PA and testing positive. (My Neuro didn't even test me for Lyme, even though I have bells palsy too & I specifically asked for further testing and treatment for Lyme given all my symptoms - some not ALS related)
I have weakness in both legs, and my left hand is very weak. I'm like you, I'm afraid if I don't use it, I'll lose it. Keep on keepin' on, we're in the life olympics
------------------ ALS-AlsoLymeSymptoms Did You Know? Lou Gehrig vacationed in Lyme, CT.
Posts: 94 | From Maryland, USA | Registered: Jan 2005
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Beverly
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 1271
posted
Hi Fogwood,
I have had weakness too, in my wrists, arms and legs. I dropped things or felt so weak I had to go lay down. So far it has gotten better for me with treatment. don't know if it was a herx though?
posted
Hi Fog, I've had a similar experience. For several weeks (or maybe it was a month or more) my arms became very weak. There were times that I could not hold them up for more than a few seconds. This symptom passed. I have just occaisional weakness in my arms at night now.
I've found that when a part of me gets weak (from Lyme) it works best if I rest that part and not try to push it. When it feels stronger then I try to use it exercise without overdoing it.
There were days (while taking doxy)when one hour I could barely lift my arms or carry a small bag and then a few hours later my arms felt fine and I carried really heavy boxes up stairs! Lyme is so unpredictable.
Overdoing it or trying to make a weak part do more than it feels like just doesn't seem to help with Lyme.
This past week was particularly difficult, I get much worse every 30 days and this was my bad week. I'm trying not to get too out of shape and am still hoping to ski this winter. The other night I tried to do some leg lifts. I tried my hardest and with extreme difficulty could only do 2. 3 was absolutely impossible. A few hours later I felt pretty good so I tried again and was easily did 40 situps and 80 leg lifts.
With these extreme fluctuations in energy it is hard to plan what I can do each day so I just take it minute by minute, hour by hour and adjust my activities accordingly.
Easy does it. Be creative and do what you can, but allow yourself to rest any part of you that needs a break.
Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
Fog,
I am feeling so much better now. It's like a different life.
I think you are right about wanting to use it to not lose it. But you can use it in moderation.
Get your work area checked by somebody who can make sure it's ergonomic. Learn how to relax your muscles when you type.
And you don't always have to push strength. Just lightly moving your wrist and making fists helps. I saw a Feldenkrais specialist for a while, and he always said "when moving comfortably, muscles relax."
Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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About a week later... and I've stopped taking flagyl. The plan is to pulse flagyl with 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off. The feeling of my hand being in wet cement is going away and I am able to use it more, handwritting and using a keyboard etc. The hand is still weak. It's hard to believe muscle strength can dissappear so fast, yet take so long to regain. At times it feels like the brain just doesn't communicate with the hand. It's very therapeutic to hear other's experiences. Thank you. fog
Posts: 27 | From Santa Cruz, CA USA | Registered: Apr 2004
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