posted
Good morning, I am a new member but have read topics on the site since April 07, that is when I tested positive for Lyme and started my up hill climb. My doctor does not agree with the CDC approach, he follows a modified version of the ILADS approach. His evaluation of a patient with suspected Lyme is somewhat complex. He does a degree of detective work and looks for pieces of the puzzle which is assembled to give a overall view. The work is done outside "the box" and most physicians would not understand, except those who are familiar with the ILADS approach to Lyme. I am lucky that I got such a Lyme Literate doc. as I had not read any of the post on how hard it is to get one. He is treating 6 patients that I know of from the small town I live in. He gave me a Western Blot and I believe a Elsia test, he took 8 tubes of blood and said he did not accept the results of just one test. When he called me for a follow up, he stated that we had hit the jackspot and all parts of the test where 100% positive for Lyme. The family doc. here in town had told me 2 months earlier that I had arthritis! My vists to my present doc. have been productive and we have good communication about current and pass conditions. I am real happy with his method, as other patients here in town are. Six weeks ago I had what was thought to be a Sciatica nerve attack and was bed ridden for two weeks, some kind of pain from my lower hip and upper leg down to my right foot. Have been to therapy since and the upper part of thigh and right leg has improved, but the burning, tingling, and ache at times in right foot puts me down, even use crutches at times. Have a doc. appointment this coming week hope to learn more, Well I have taken so much of your time with this post I better get of here.
Posts: 108 | From maryland | Registered: Sep 2007
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CaliforniaLyme
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 7136
-------------------- There is no wealth but life. -John Ruskin
All truth goes through 3 stages: first it is ridiculed: then it is violently opposed: finally it is accepted as self evident. - Schopenhauer Posts: 5639 | From Aptos CA USA | Registered: Apr 2005
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just don
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1129
posted
Welcome aboard Mushroomman,,
Hope all goes well in your lyme treatment and any other co-infections you may have!!
I have a zero cost thing to try for the sciatia pain and anyone else that wakes from sleep with lower back problems.
Its so simple,wish I had done it years ago.
Try sleeping with 1 or 2 pillows between your legs. I heard on TV someplace that the natural way of sleeping on your side pulled at the lower back,,,and resulted in an unnatural 'alignment' of the lower spine(which of course is related to siatica(sp) )))
The pillows make everything line up. I tried it and the FIRST night I felt soooooo much better. Now I barely have back pain in morning.
Used to take half the day for the 'kinks' to work out!! I started out with one and then went two,,,cause I am a 'wide' guy!!
Isnt their a better thing,,,shaped like a butterfly wings that would stay in place better??
The results of a simple thing,,,amazing!!! hope your mileage is similiar,,,but it may well vary!!being--just don--
-------------------- just don Posts: 4548 | From Middle of midwest | Registered: May 2001
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posted
Hey there, mushroomman! Glad you finally decided to post!
That sciatica is probably caused by the Lyme. I have it too. It's doing really well now. There were times I was suffering so bad, I wanted a gun!
Lyme can cause damage to nerves, but sometimes it's related to a herx or other flare....not permanent damage. [I just read your post in Medical and want to warn you that the quinolone drugs CAN cause permanent damage to tendons.]
I hope the pain eases up for you soon. Maybe don's tip will help too! When my pain is the worst, I have to sleep [if I can at all] on my back.
Don't be a stranger!!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96220 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Oh boy! This topic has been heavy on mind the past few weeks. I have tried to avoid it but
here it is!!! Mine was so bad that I ended up having a spinal fusion last year! Now that I
know about LYME I suspect I may not have had to do this....talk about angry! When I came
out of surgery I couldnt even walk the nerve damage was worse AFTER the surgery than before!
6 months of grueling PT and have "permanant" damage! Wonder if it will improve with tx???
I KNOW this pain, my firend. It is horrible. And highly exagerated by injury, strains etc so be careful!
ps had a hard time getting through your post bc there wasnt enough spacing...being new just thought
i would point out...not trying to be rude!
-------------------- Seeking renewed health & vitality. --------------------------------- Do not take anything I say as medical advice - I am NOT a dr! Posts: 830 | From TN | Registered: Aug 2007
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Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
Welcome Mushroomman!
I know you are looking into whether cipro is adding to your pain.
My pain is mostly muscular. A lot of it is referred pain, which means a tight muscle in one place refers the pain down to another spot. I do get pain that seems to go down the sciatic nerve that comes from tight muscles in my hips and low back.
I recently started Zanaflex, and it is really helping. It's often used as an anti-spasmodic, for people with MS and similar diagnoses. But it really is reducing my pain. You might want to ask a doctor about it if a lot of your pain is muscular. I'm hoping it's my super pill
-Aniek
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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CJ...I'm sorry you had to go through that! The pain must have been unbearable!! My pain is WAY better due to taking mangosteen every day. It helps remove the inflammation.
I THINK that finding out I'm gluten intolerant helped too. Sounds weird, but my gut is MUCH happier being gluten-free and doesn't spasm, etc which often triggered the sciatic nerve somehow...???
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96220 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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