Cervical Dystonia and Lyme

Hi Shelly,

I really don't know much about cervical dystonia but I would guess it's another lyme symptoms due to an overload of toxins.    This article may help:

Cervical dystonia, or torticollis, is the most common type. Cervical dystonia typically occurs in middle-aged individuals. It has, though, been reported in people of all ages. Cervical dystonia affects the neck muscles, causing the head to twist and turn or be pulled backward or forward.

http://www.webmd.com/brain/dystonia-causes-types-symptoms-and-treatments

When I was suffering with lyme it didn't affect my neck muscles but it most certainly affected my legs.  

Wish I could be of more help,

Denise

Hi Shelly,

I have also been sick with Lyme disease for just over 4 years. Unfortunately, I didn't know it was Lyme until a year and a half ago... took a while for the doctors to figure it out (proper diagnoses is a problem in Canada).
Anyhow, my experience of Lyme has been very neurological as well. Up until a year ago, I had great difficulty walking. I'm happy to say that I have been improving - I can walk very well now. HOWEVER, for the past 9 months or so I've been dealing with cervical dystonia. Though it's been manageable, the past month has been particularly bad, causing me great discomfort and much anxiety.

As for my treatment of Lyme, initially I did about a 4-5 month go with antibiotics (metronizadole & clarithromycin). I experienced about a two week long Herxheimer reaction, which of course wasn't fun but a good sign, and then I slowly started to improve a bit. But then I plateaued and hit a wall, so I discontinued the antibiotics and sought alternative treatment. With my family doctor's blessing and under his watchful eye, I now see a Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner (TCM) who has specialized in treating chronic lyme for a number of years. I have been following his treatment approach for 7 months now. Through him I have learned a great deal about lyme, and have come to believe that over time I will one day be ALL better.

As for the cervical dystonia, my neurologist (who knows nothing about lyme) has suggested I increase the L-Dopa I currently take (which he originally prescribed 6 months ago for the dystonia) or try a Botox injection. I've decided to increase the L-Dopa to see if it helps... if it doesn't, and if the pain is too much, I may try the Botox. We'll see. I've also begun seeing an acupuncturist and I'm hoping this will provide some relief.

From what I have come to understand about overcoming Lyme, it's a series of hills and valleys. I really was doing very well about a month ago, and then suddenly the dystonia became much worse. The TCM lyme practitioner tells me this is very common of lyme patients who are healing. As the bacteria dies off, it releases toxins and symptoms become aggravated (Herxheimer reaction). I think this is what I'm currently experiencing and though it feels awful, I'm trying my best to stay calm and ride it out. We'll see.

Hang in there!

Hi Shelley,

Have you seen any improvement in the dystonic features since you've been treating the lyme?