lyme arthritis

I'm wondering if you still need lyme disease treatment?

Why did you stop the treatment? Have you thought about herbal treatment?

Sorry you're suffering so.

One of my most prominent and troubling symptoms (and what has just given me hell during treatment...it does not want to let go of my body!) is Lyme arthritis. I'm affected in my feet, ankles, one hip, sacrum, elbows, wrists, fingers...and most markedly, my knees. For the 20 years I had Lyme and was undiagnosed, I would have these strange flare-ups that would make it tough to walk for a month or so. I'd either cave and have the knees drained or I'd tough it through. When I was finally dx'd at least that explained it.

However, during treatment (after the first 6 months of treatment on all herbals, which went well up to the end of the 6th month), I had a major flare or a herx that led to a flare. For the second 6 months of treatment the Lyme arthritis has come out in full force, the worst it's ever been, in more places than it's ever been.

Probably much later than we should have, my LLND and I decided to pursue abx (she consults once a week with a prominent LLMD also, luckily, in my area, and when she ran my case by him he said, "You know, in the cases of Lyme arthritis and extreme neuro-Lyme, antibiotics are always indicated. Once that is under control, it is likely safe to go back to an all herbal treatment."

Anyhow, after 6 months of misery, trying to keep up my travel schedule but having to rely on airport wheelchair service, cutting out almost all activities, having both knees drained twice, bouts of pain so excruciating I thought I was going to die...I started seeing this LLMD and he immediately put me on an abx regimen above and beyond the herbal regimen. I'm still taking the herbals. In my signature line, you'll see what I'm currently taking, just as an idea.

I've been on that regimen for almost two months, and my Lyme arthritis symptoms are ~ 70% better! So, I'd say big improvement over the prior 6 months. And a lot of what still remains I believe is just healing needed for joints that were swollen and immobile month after month after month.

Oh, forgot to mention I added weekly coffee enemas, tri-weekly detox baths, monthly ion-cleanse foot detox, and dry brushing into my ongoing self-care regimen. And find a good Curcumin supplement (I have two in my regimen below) for overall inflammation control.

Finally, this is just opinion as I'm obviously not a doctor...but if you are still having arthritis flares I'd be willing to bet you still have an infection. I just don't buy that "Post Lyme Treatment Syndrome" baloney. Hope you have a LLMD/ND you trust who can help you through it.

To GIrlie,
I was on IV treatment for almost a year and then stopped it as my body was really suffering with incredible itchiness, which the doctor figured was probably yeast,. After feeling like the lyme was back in spring I had blood work and was sent back to my lyme doc by my primary physician. I am still currently on Probinicid, amoxycillin, fish oil, turmeric ( 1000mg /day) nd that is about it . I have recently started neuroptin ( gabapentin ) for the nerve pain and they want me to start celebrex for the arthritis. I am hesitant to start on the latter and remain on the neuroptin. I wonder if anyone is getting burning electric like nerve pain in hands. That pain is what keeps me up at night. My finger tips are totally numb. Thank you all for your input. ANy other suggestions would be most appreciated. I have a LLMD but I am not sure he knows what to do for me anymore.

Orchid_rain, the other is called Curaphen. The Curaphen also has Boswelia and Nattokinase in it... The Meriva is just a killer shot of absorbable Curcumin. Don't know which is better, per se...I was on the Curaphen for 6 months and did very well, then when I hit a wall in treatment my LLND added Meriva on top of the Curaphen...so I've never tried Meriva alone...

Fedup...yikes, given your history with Lyme I would really hope you wouldn't go on something that is meant to dampen your immune system (Celebrex). To my knowledge, the only drug anywhere near this type that might be indicated with an active infection is Plaquenil...and then not for the reasons that a rheumatologist would use it, but rather because it helps abx better penetrate cells. A side effect is that it helps reduce joint swelling.

Yes, I was getting shooting nerve pains, as well as burning (not just a warm glow kind of burn...a being drenched with gasoline and set on fire kind of burn) and stabbing. My LLMD said that it's actually bad to try to tough it through pain and do take whatever's needed so the pain doesn't interrupt the healing process (stress, adrenal fatigue, etc.) I tried Gabapentin for a bit and it was okay...but he has me on Tramadol now (as needed) and I've found that helps the most with nerve pain. But what is really getting rid of the nerve pain is treating the Bartonella and Lyme infections... The Tramadol is just covering it up so I can live a sane, untortured life as I resolve the underlying cause of the pain (Lyme and Bart). Tramadol (or Gabapentin) is not a cure. And at this point in treatment, I am down to 1 or 0 50mg tabs of Tramadol a day. At the worst, I was at 6.

Maybe with a different combo of abx you might respond? I know my LLMD thinks that Biaxin + Plaquenil is the A1 combo for muscle and joint-related instantiations of Lyme. And the Bactrim is for the Bart...he says he could have me on a stronger drug for Bart (like Rifampin) but that I was so fragile when I came to him he didn't want to overload the treatment and have me undergo a huge herx.

Per the yeast...my LLMD has me (preventatively...I don't have a current infection) on Nystatin. And I take a hefty dose of probiotics well away from my daily abx, and drink organic Kombucha and Kefir, also away from the abx.

Sorry for several long replies. I just totally get what you're going through and hope to see you getting better, as I finally am.

Dear Lyme Singer,
As you can see it is 230 am and I am up - the usual for me with this burning, shooting numbness. I so appreciated your feedback. It sounds like you are experiencing(ed) the same symptoms I am. It is almost comforting (sorry) to hear someone else has been there and that there is hope for feeling better. I am concerned because my LLMD said Celebrex sounded fine when I told him my hand doctor suggested it. Do you suffer from Carpal tunnel as well? Do I understand correctly that the alkaline water is a prescription? I had Babesia, not Bart. DID the pain bother you most at night when you were lying down? I get numb with shooting pains intermittently throughout the day, but night is the worst. The burning is almost constant.
WOuld you tell me who your doctor is? I am in NJ so have to find a LLMD in this area if mine can't help me. ALso do you have a lot of inflammation as well that is visible? My fingers and hands are very swollen. Thanks for taking the time.