Joint pain and inflamation update:

It is now about 12 months since i have been diagnosed with long term lyme. It is now 11 months since i have an inflamed right knee where i cannot walk properly and i now seem to have this permanent painful limp which is quite noticible. My second joint giving me severe problems is my right elbow and that one seems to be even worse than the knee but it is not evident unless you know me and know the fact that i cannot do much with this arm and that there is no strength in it whatsoever. I am worried that this right arm will atrophy and that i may never regain proper use of it. At yesterday's meeting with my naturpathic lyme medic, we talked about the elbow, and we agreed that i would go to a regular doc and ask to get both x-ray and an MRI scan of the elbow joint and have it paid for by our standard canadian health care system. I have this appointment for Friday. I have never discussed my lyme with this regular doctor and i hope that he hears me out and we do this research on what is happening with me with my joints. My right shoulder was badly broken - shattered about 10 years ago but now seems much better than the elbow and that seems strange for me. I want to see what my regular doctor before my lyme will say about this now lyme situation. I need this constant elbow pain addressed since i cannot find any position for my arm to be pain free even when the arm is at rest. I am worried about my arm going past a point of no return and just atrophying. Not a pleasant thought.

xfmlg, I am glad that you are seeking traditional treatment because MRI's, CAT scans and xrays do have their place in diagnosing issues such as yours.

If the issue turns out to be inflammation then perhaps that can be attributed to Lyme and Co. If however, it is because of a compromised or decaying cartilage, then that can be treated with traditional methods.

Have you had an Electromyography (EMG) done yet to test the health of the muscles and the nerves that control the muscles?