Post Lyme Symptoms
Post-Lyme disease, often referred to as chronic Lyme disease, is a condition that is often diagnosed when an individual who was believed to have been cured of Lyme disease continues to complain of symptoms. In many cases these symptoms may last for months, sometimes even years, after the Lyme disease has been "cured."
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Bells Palsy
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Bell's Palsy is a condition that causes the muscles on one or both sides of the face to lose tone. The muscles will begin to sag, and patients with Bells Palsy are sometimes misdiagnosed as having had a stroke because of the similar muscular effects. This symptom usually clears up over time, but patients with post-Lyme syndrome may have persistent muscle problems.
Arthritis
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Arthritis pain is a very common symptom of Lyme disease. Arthritis involves pain and swelling at the joints of the body. The larger joints, such as those found in the knees or hips, are usually most painful, but arthritis pain can attack any joint in the body. Patients suffering from post-Lyme syndrome often find this arthritis pain does not go away and in some cases it continues to get worse.
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Neurological Complaints
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Lyme disease can cause a number of neurological symptoms including random pain or numbness throughout the body and, in some cases, short-term memory problems. The average Lyme disease patient will experience relief of these symptoms after completing the standard course of antibiotics usually prescribed for Lyme disease. Those with post-Lyme syndrome often experience continuing neurological symptoms.
Fatigue
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Most Lyme disease patients are incredibly fatigued and have trouble sleeping. This symptom, like many others, usually disappears after treatment but patients with post-Lyme syndrome usually continue to feel fatigued and suffer from frequent sleep disturbances.
Why Do Symptoms Persist?
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Many people find their Lyme disease symptoms persist for months or even years after the infection is gone from the body. It is believed that this happens because of the autoimmune system. The body's immune system has been working on overdrive for so long, often accommodating long courses of antibiotics, and continues to respond to the threat even though the infection is actually gone.
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