Lymes symptoms or musculoskeletal issues

Hey all- I've had shoulder pain in my left shoulder over a year now, after surgery and doing PT for almost a year, I went back to the gym and kept straining my shoulder because it was so weak (maybe poor rehab or inflammation or both).  about 6 months later my right shoulder, which was dislocated in college three times, but haven't had issues since, started hurting (I had to carry my groceries, walk my dog, basically do everything with my right shoulder).  My right knee and lower back/hip hurt all the time- this I think may be caused by my right hip being tilted and higher than my left, due to the physical motor tics I've done all of these years from Tourette's Syndrome.  about the same time my right shoulder started hurting, my feet started burning and my plantar fascitis came back.  Here are the physical symptoms I feel all day:

- burning, aching, throbbing pain in both shoulders

-tightness in both chest muscles (my poor posture can definitely contribute to this right? But who doesn't have bad posture these days!?)

-burning on the bottoms of both feet

-plantar fascitis in both feet

-right hip and knee pain

-lower back pain

When I wake up in the morning, ever single morning my feet throb as well as my shoulders and sometimes lower back.  They ache and throb until I basically get out of bed. 

I know it's difficult to say whether these are Lyme symptoms vs. musculoskeletal issues without doing an exam on me, however, I've been in PT for a while and none of it helped.  It's driving me absolutely crazy that I can't workout, I was able to wait 6 months to a year after surgery to workout, but 2 years after surgery I was expecting to be back to full strength.  Now I have to have people help me carry groceries, lift things, etc. when I used to be a really, really strong guy (former bodybuilder). I'm only 29 years old, and I'm terrified that I'm going to have these symptoms forever, or there is going to be permanent damage.

I'm sorry for the panicky post, perhaps I'm having a bad day with symptoms or my depression/anxiety is especially bad today.

Thanks everyone :)

Dave

 

Hi Dave,

In an earlier post of yours you said that you were seeing an LLMD: Are you still getting treatment? Both Lyme and the herxheimer reaction from being treated can make any existing problems worse. Scar tissue can get irritated by Lyme, in particular, and it sounds like you have plenty of that.

Are you being treated for Bartonella -- the burning feet symptom is rather a tell-tale for that.

Would you be willing to try some gentle yoga? It could help with some of your muscle and joint issues and facilitate detoxing. I know it's not as "manly" as weightlifting but it is very beneficial -- it would even help with the anxiety and much more.

So sorry you are going through such a difficult time.

I think time will answer your question. As in let your treatment start to work and then reevaluate. Follow your gut!

Hi Dave,

One of my first symptoms over a year and a half ago was symptoms of a pinched nerve on my upper left side - shoulder blade, left arm, hand, index finger. Started with excruciating shoulder blade pain and a completely limp left arm. It morphed into nerve pain and weakness down my left arm, and hand. Chiro said thoracic outlet, my PCP said pinched nerve - cervical spine. Did nothing for a few months (pain was too bad). After that, over the course of 4 months, I tried three different physiotherapists, each with their own plan to rehab. I also saw a Doctor of Chinese Medicine, who grabbed my arm and aggresively pulled it back over my head and out to the side to break up the adhesions. That hurt like heck...and helped the mobility for the rest of the day...but next morning it was bad again. They said i was making it worse by not deaing with it. Each one made it worse. Finally saw a Physiatrist in May - he diagnosed frozen shoulder. By this time both my shoulders (tops and fronts) were now very sore, and my r.o.m. was poor in addition to the original 'injury' - left arm, hand pain, loss of rom. I was going crazy wondering why it was now spreading to my other side. Hurt like heck to try and put on button up shirts, or jackets. Physiatrist said to stay away from physio and not to aggravate it, and over time as it feels better, start using my left arm more and more in everyday activities. That was last May. I was diagnosed with lyme disease in July and started antibiotics. By the end of Aug/beg of Sept - my husband noticed that my left shoulder blade was now visible again. - You couldn't see it the entire time since my symptoms started. Both my right and left have always been prominent as I don't have much fat on my back. By end of December, my range of motion - left side was starting to improve. Now, in February, I can actually put my left arm behind my back...not high up, but the rom is so much better. Also, the pain in both shoulders - tops and front is a bit better.

I don't know for sure what's happening in your case...but I wanted to let you know that the only thing that explains what happened to me is Lyme disease. There was no 'event' prior to the 'pinched nerve' injury...it was assumed my clerical job had caused it. (repetitive strain). Also, I had no history of musculosketal issues prior.
So, YES, it is possible that your issues are caused by Lyme disease - causing new issues, or exacerbating old issues.

Also, I am not saying don't do rehab....I don't know what's best for your condition/situation. I just wanted to express to you how it was for me.

DaveNJ41- 'I think there is a lot of inflammation and some misalignment going on contributing to the pain."

Very much agreed, like others mentioned lyme takes advantage of per-existing structural issues and muscle adhesion's from past injury or even current from over use with lyme. Adhesions contain more fibrin and lyme loves clinging to fibrin.

Breaking up adhesion is a biggie that will promote proper muscle length and deter or correct misalignment. Then you can re-strengthen. ABX did something for me, just not as much as I hoped for. I herxed forever, so it was killing something. My neck certainly is better (knock on wood).

There are also nerve glide stretches that you can find on u-tube. I like them.

Ever lay on a rolled up (tube) bath towel , on back (spine) for 5 min? Shoulders like it.