Lymes testing

Can anyone tell me if a lumber puncture/spinal tap can be used in order to detect/diagnose lyme?

I had a lumbar puncture last January to check for MS and menengitis.. My spinal fluid did test IGG positive for Lyme. I had previously tested positive for Lyme on the Western Blot.

Hi All

Thank you for your responses, and welcoming me to the board!

Ive been in limbo land for 5 months now, Im not totally sure I have Lymes, but its certainly on my list of suspects.

It started of with fatigue and back ache back in March this year, and things have gone down hill ever since. Ive developed multiple neurological symptoms, Including numbness in arm, fingers and toes and from the waist down on 2 occasions. Weak legs, and jelly type legs which lasts for a matter of minutes. Night sweats, Headaches, tremors, swollen eye lid, blood shot eye, wet cold sensations in legs, tingling and prickling sensations all over but especially on face. Twitching, sore spots all over body on and off, knee pain, foot pain, stiff neck, face drop, bruising at the slightest knock or pinch, burning skin though doesnt feel hot to touch or go red, ive had the burning skin all over from head to toe all at once at times, it feels a bit like sunburn but really severe. pressure in my head and a strange headache which almost feels sore like my head has been cut right across my skull. Legs often feel unbalanced, almost like one is longer than the other or that im walking on a slope, and sometimes my legs are really stiff. My eyes started to sting along the bottom lid and in the corners about 8 weeks ago, and now my eyes are extremely sensitive to light and my pupils dilate to different sizes at different times, sometimes they look normal, but rarely. I cant sleep right through, and I have constant back pain which is in one particular spot under my shoulder blade on the left which radiates into my arm, underarm and ribs. Ive had out of body type experiences and often feel confused and anxious. The symptoms seem to get worse every week with newer ones developing, last week my whole left side went numb. Ive been to A%E 4 times, seen various specialists, undergone loads of tests including MRI's of brain and spine, and they still dont know what is wrong, ive been treated so badly by the medical profession, and dismissed so many times because they dont know what the problem is and it challenges their god complex. Ive had a blood test for lymes which was negative, ive just had another done on Friday, waiting for results. My doctors are completely deluded when it comes to lyme, there is only one lime literate doctor in the whole of the UK to my knowledge, who is miles away from me, but I would be prepared to go there if need be. My neurologist at first thought I had MS, which has been ruled out by the MRI's, however I believe he wants to do the lumber puncture to look for O-bands in relation to this, and other possibilities. The only tests ive had done which have shown any significance has been my white blood cell count which is elevated. I also forgot to mention that when these symptoms started I kept getting hives on my face and neck but no bullseye rash, I was also very itchy and had 2 panic attacks in quick succession, something I have never had before. I just dont know what my problem is and neither do any of the doctors, im running out of tests to have done and also feel im runnning out of time sometimes as well due to the speed in which my symptoms are developing. There are not many body parts left for this to effect. Does this sound like lymes to anyone, I think a lot of my symptoms fit apart from my eye problems and the constant back pain in one particular spot. Any feedback would be much appreciated. Sorry for the extremely long post, and thanks for you patience in reading it!!!!

HI Traveler

Thank you so much for the info on eurolyme, they have been very informative and I have located a hospital in london, only an hour away from me, which tests for lymes and co infections, they actually send your blood tests to the states or germany, so a lot more effective than the standard uk nhs blood test which ive already had. So think this may lead to something hopefully. Thank you so much again for you encouraging thoughts and advice.

All the best

Ruth

I'd be very, very surprised if you didn't have Lyme.  The eye symptoms also can be caused by Lyme (the different size pupils, the irritation and redness, etc.).

From the sounds of things, it might be a good idea to set up an appointment with the LLMD there sooner or later, since it might take a while to get in to see him.

Take care,

Yes, you can have a high white cell count with Lyme, but it is also possible to have normal or low white cell counts with Lyme. And the jello feeling in the legs is also something that can happen with Lyme. Basically, Lyme can mimic over 300 diseases, because the bacteria can wiggle its way into any tissue or organ anywhere in the body.

Hi Ruth. I have many of your same symptoms and am diagnosed with Lyme and two other tick-borne infections. For years before I was finally diagnosed, my blood tests always revealed a slightly elevated white count and whatever doctor was reading the test always commented that I was probably fighting a little infection. I've never had confirmation of this, but it makes sense to me that I wasn't afflicted with various mundane infections just before blood tests; that elevated count was because my body was trying to fight these chronic Lyme bugs.

Wow, 2200 is expensive for testing. I hope you will get a definitive diagnosis as a result of your investment, but sometimes it doesn't work that way and a qualified Lyme doctor will make a clinical diagnosis based on your symptoms. I am glad the test includes coinfections. I haven't run into anybody yet who has only Lyme. Please keep us posted how you are doing.

Rose