posted
Hey, does anyone know if possible Lyme symptoms (cramping, tingling, numbness) can appear primarily on the left side of one's body? In my case the symptoms are typically more pronounced in the AM but can vary from day to day. The first symptom I ever had (approx. 2 yrs ago) was a moderate feeling of numbness/tingling on my left side. Is that possible in Lyme disease?
Posts: 6 | From Western Massachusetts | Registered: Dec 2006
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Areneli
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6740
posted
I would be an example of somebody whose symptoms are primary on the left (borrelia screws with my brain obviously) and have more problems with pain and discomfort in AM hours.
Posts: 1538 | From Planet Earth | Registered: Jan 2005
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Andie333
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posted
Almost all of my physiological/ neuro symptoms have been on my right side: right foot numb, knee swollen, hip painful, leg swelling, facial numbness.
In all my months of treatment, things have never migrated to the other side of my body.
It's my understanding that a characteristic of lyme is that the symptoms tend to be unilateral.
Andie
Posts: 2549 | From never never land | Registered: May 2005
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dmc
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Member # 5102
posted
my lyme problems are on the left side. Leg & back spasms, left hand has some difficulty with fingers...bad typing control.
Posts: 2675 | From ct, usa | Registered: Jan 2004
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Aniek
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Member # 5374
posted
I often have worse pain on my right side, but I also get pain on my left. There are periods of time where most of my pain is one side.
Unilateral pain is a symptom I have been told is very definitive of Lyme.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
Thanks everyone for the replies. I was also wondering, though this might be to specific, if my first symptom was left sided dullness/numbness (particularly in my face) and was the only obvious symptom for over a year until a slew of symptoms began occurring then is Lyme still a possibility?
I know progression is unique to everyone but I can't help but ask. Thanks.
Posts: 6 | From Western Massachusetts | Registered: Dec 2006
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posted
Numbness/tingling in the left side of my body is what first sent me to a neuro. 3 years later, and many more symptoms, I was diagnosed with FM, then another year and I was diagnosed with Lyme - but only after I insisted I see someone other than the neuro and rheumy.
-------------------- "Few of us can do great things, but all of us can do small things with great love". Mother Theresa
trueblue
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7348
posted
In the beginning, especially, all my neuro symptoms were prediminanly left sided and my arthritic ones right sided.
It's still pretty much that way but there's much more cross over now.
-------------------- more light, more love more truth and more innovation Posts: 3783 | From somewhere other than here | Registered: May 2005
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posted
Unilateral... really? Ugh, even more pointers to Lyme for me.
Had/have terrible abdominal pain on my right side.
Then I lost the hearing in my right ear.
Then my right eye started playing up horribly - pain, subtle nystagmus. Now I have major floaters... but, yes, only in my right eye.
The tingling/numbness was/is in both arms though. Burning sensations were right ear predominantly.
Now both ears are ringing like b*&tards. R ear still worst though.
P
Posts: 19 | From London | Registered: Dec 2006
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savebabe
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posted
Almost all of my symptoms are on my left side. Dr. B thinks that the tick must of bit me on that side and that is why one side is worse than another. This is a very weird disease.
Posts: 1603 | From ny | Registered: Aug 2006
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groovy2
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6304
posted
Hi gpp
I have no idea why the left side of body seems to be effected in some people-
But it dose seem like when folks say it is worse on one side - most of the time it is the left side--
Seems like Bells effects most folks on the left side of face -it did me-
No idea why tho--Jay--
Posts: 2999 | From Austin tx USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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Vermont_Lymie
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Member # 9780
posted
Another leftie;
Before starting abx in July, my facial numbness and joint pains were all on my left side. But my right eye lost most of its night vision. (doesn't the right eye correlate to the left side of the brain?)
After starting treatment, my right shoulder muscles have hurt and been tight for about 3-4 months. I think this is a mild ongoing herx.
Posts: 2557 | From home | Registered: Aug 2006
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Rash around left eye and left side of mouth, left eye blurry, leftsided headache, left jaw hurting, left shoulder and left knee hurting as well as leftsided sciatica.
It sounds very strange, to be having symptoms predominantly on one side. It doesn't make much sense to me.
Posts: 155 | From Norway | Registered: Jan 2006
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One Modern Chinese Medical Doctor I saw said, perhaps I was infected on the left side, which makes sense, or perhaps because my right side is stronger (right handed) that the bacteria for some reason can go more easily after the weaker side.
Will we ever know?
Steve
Posts: 34 | From China | Registered: Aug 2006
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Beverly
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Member # 1271
posted
Hi ggp986,
I have more weakness on my left side, but more pain on the ride. I have a numb spot on my left elbow, can't feel anything, so for me there are differences on each side of my body. Lyme is a strange disease.
Posts: 6641 | From Michigan | Registered: Jun 2001
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Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
It was first my left knee that was bad for years. But in the last 4 years, my right side is where my pain is worse.
I sometimes have what I call a "line of pain." Spots hurt all the way up my right side, that you could connect with a dot.
My LLMD said this is classic Lyme. If you tell a neurologist, she said they'll look like you like you are crazy. There is no physical "reason" why pain should follow that pattern. Lyme.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
Bells Palsy on the left side for me too along with neuropathy in the left leg.
Posts: 925 | From California | Registered: Sep 2004
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
leftie also ... been pretty much let side during occurrenes
last 3 days i can[t use my left hand or hold a pen, and so painful to type
i entered aout 70 names/addreses into both lyme petitions; must have overstraied mself.
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tailz
Unregistered
posted
My symptoms were more left-sided for years. Droopy left eyelid, intermittent left-sided Bell's Palsy, shooting pain down my left leg and up through my left back/shoulder/neck/jaw, burst my left eardrum, left-sided headaches (pinching and throbbing), gum tissue loss more left-sided from food reactions, more greys on my left side, too, even! Pins and needles left foot and numbness in left hand.
Recently though, I think it started affecting my right side as well. Both eyelids droop especially towards the end of the day.
I wouldn't doubt though that it attacks the weaker side of the body - that's a neat take on it and makes sense.
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posted
just to add- i was bitten on the right side, symptoms are much stronger on the right side and I have more problems with the areas closest to where the tick bit me. that little jerk.
Posts: 3 | From louisa, va | Registered: Nov 2006
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Marnie
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 773
posted
These "one sided" symptoms are caused by an electrolyte imbalance.
posted
Marnie, the link you provided is really helpful. I wondered why the Mag-Tab-SR made me feel so bad. When I took a bath with epsom salt, I could hardly walk the next day. Even vitamin B-12 made me feel worse.
Apparently these things were inhibiting potassium and throwing the electrolyte balance off. I have only been taking one potassium tablet about every 3 or 4 days.
I have Bell's palsy on the left side of my face, but other symptoms can be on either side of my body.
posted
I found this topic of interest, because I have been on IV Roceph for 4 weeks now. I have been feeling much much worse with symptoms that have knocked me down for the count. I even ended up in ER with chest pains so severe I thought I had an elephant on my chest. All labs and stress tests were normal.
But for the past 3 days my left leg started out as a charlie horse, and for the past 2 days it is very very week and I feel like I am dragging it.....
Is this part of the process ?
When I go to the doc with my symptoms he always states it's part of the process, but the leg episodes are scary to me !!! All the left side. I have had problems with the left leg for years with weakness, but this is so much more severe.
Help friends....
[ 09. December 2006, 07:19 AM: Message edited by: typhoon_sheri ]
Posts: 116 | From state of lyme | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
my symptoms are totally left sided. kind of a drag since i'm left handed. they have never crossed over to the right. mri show damage on right side of my brain, so my left side is affected. morning are the toughest.
Posts: 76 | From Kalispell, Montana | Registered: Dec 2006
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posted
Bite was on left side--lower back by butt dimple.
Worse on left: knee, ear including ringing, muscle spasms and earlobe redness, facial twitches, teeth and jaw pain, rash on upper arms and lower leg, sore muscles on sides of shin.
Worse on right: hip pain. Interestingly enough, in my right ear I hear musical notes even though the noises are louder and more painful in left ear. Eye redness, puffiness and pain.
The same: neck pain, stiffness and heat. Sore thighs along the outer sides. Both sides of rib cage.
Perhaps lymphatic drainage differences right and left sides of the body influence where the infection can take hold.
Posts: 353 | From Florida boonies | Registered: Nov 2005
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