I've been on antibiotic medication for Lyme disease (Biaxin and Plaquel) for approximately 10 weeks following approximately 5 years of undiagnosed Lyme disease. I have many symptoms (I know, we all do), but my biggest issues now are with my physical symptoms.
I found that everything slowly worsened and worsened while I was undiagnosed (new symptoms would pop up, existing muscle pain and tendon snapping worsened, etc etc), but I was really hopeful that once I began medication things would start to reverse (or at least plateau).
Unfortunately, despite a well-regulated diet, aggressive physiotherapy and stretching exercises, and antibiotic medication, I really haven't noticed any improvement at all. In fact, my physical arthiritis-like symptoms seem to have been accelerated. As an example, my newest woe is my right knee (and the tendon that runs from it to my right foot) which, beginning about four weeks ago, began snapping louding and feeling really loose and out of place and sore.
I knew about "herxing" but this has been quite different... I do herx (usually with lots of neurological symptoms), but physically things continue to worsen. Things have gotten to the point where I can barely move without pain.
I was wondering, is this normal? Do things eventually plateau, or start to improve? How long does it usually take until things start to improve? I am well aware of "herxes" but this seems different than what I've read (brief period of symptoms exploding VS long term gradual worsening)
Thanks everyone,
--MDL
Posts: 18 | From Canada | Registered: Aug 2009
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sutherngrl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16270
posted
This does not sound at all uncommon in LD.
You may have to work your way through numerous antibiotics before you hit on the ones that actually work best for you. Biaxin made me feel awful and I ended up stopping it in 3 weeks.
I have been in treatment 15 months and noticed slight improvement beginning at the 1 year mark.
I have worked my way through Flagyl, Zith, Biaxin, Malarone, Minocycline, Plaquenil, Doxycycline..... and I think that is about it.
Posts: 4035 | From Mississippi | Registered: Jul 2008
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Pinelady
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18524
posted
I agree. That old adage you will get worse before you get better is true.
-------------------- Suspected Lyme 07 Test neg One band migrating in IgG region unable to identify.Igenex Jan.09IFA titer 1:40 IND IgM neg pos 31 +++ 34 IND 39 IND 41 IND 83-93 + DX:Neuroborreliosis Posts: 5850 | From Kentucky | Registered: Dec 2008
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posted
At some point if you continue to get worse with no improvement I would question whether the drugs you are on are the right ones for you. I had ups and downs .... I felt worse when I first started abx .... but the trend was that I improved over time .... the ups were better, the downs were not so bad as time went on.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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glm1111
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 16556
posted
I urge you to check out the Parasite/Worm connection to Lyme disease.
I did not start making any progress until I started treating for parasites.
Gael
-------------------- PARASITES/WORMS ARE NOW RECOGNIZED AS THE NUMBER 1 CO-INFECTION IN LYME DISEASE BY ILADS* Posts: 6418 | From philadelphia pa | Registered: Jul 2008
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