Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1471270
L i s te n to T h e A B M P Po d c a s t a t a b m p.co m /p o d c a s t s o r w h e reve r yo u a cce s s yo u r favo r i te p o d c a s t s 73 Now, Lyme disease is acknowledged to be the most common vector-borne disease in the US and Europe, spread by the Ixodes species of ticks, especially deer ticks and Western black-legged ticks. Almost half a million new Lyme disease infections are diagnosed in the US each year. The bacteria that cause Lyme disease move in stages. The first is early localized disease, which might be marked by a bulls- eye rash (the technical term is erythema migrans), fever, night sweats, headache, swollen lymph nodes, and more. This usually develops 7–30 days after a tick bite. The rash is not always found, however, so this stage may be missed or mistaken for flu. The next stage is early disseminated disease. It may involve more rashes, arrhythmia, headaches, facial nerve paralysis, peripheral neuropathy, inflammation of the spinal cord and nerve roots (radiculomyelitis), and debilitating fatigue. The last stage is called late disseminated disease. This can involve painful, erosive inflammation of the large joints; knees, shoulders, and elbows are often affected and may develop permanent damage. In addition to causing arthritis, late Lyme disease can involve severe headaches and migraines, mental fogginess, muscle and joint pain, vertigo, tremors, depression, anxiety, dizziness, arrhythmia, and nerve pain. It is surprisingly difficult to diagnose Lyme disease if no initial bulls-eye rash is found—which is the case about a third of the time. Blood tests may reveal some signs of exposure, but they do not distinguish whether that exposure is recent or happened a long time ago. Taking a test too early or too late in the process may yield inaccurate results. For this reason, Lyme disease diagnoses must rely on blood tests, a physical examination, and the patient's possible exposure to ticks. Lyme disease is typically treated with antibiotics, although the type and duration of prescriptions may vary. Most specialists agree that it is preferable to start treatment as early as possible, but not all infections are identified in the first stage. Many patients do well with the recommended antibiotic therapy that lasts for several weeks, and they emerge with no long-term loss of function, but some people do not respond to this strategy. Somewhere between 10–20 percent of Lyme disease patients remain symptomatic long after their treatment is complete, and the challenges and controversies that these patients must manage can be overwhelming. POST-TREATMENT LYME DISEASE SYNDROME AND CHRONIC LYME DISEASE The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) recognize that a significant portion of people with Lyme disease have some signs and symptoms that persist for an unknown amount of time after treatment and have suggested the label post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS) as a diagnosis for these patients. PTLDS is generally recognized to involve evidence of previous exposure to Borrelia (which turns out to be difficult to demonstrate), along with symptoms of fatigue, pain, sleep disruptions, and cognitive difficulties that persist at least six months post-treatment. It is not clear why this develops, but immune system dysregulation appears to be an important factor. However, no specific diagnostic criteria have been developed to identify PTLDS, and no treatment protocol has been found to be widely successful. This is especially problematic in a health-care system that does not provide financial coverage for treatments without a proven track record. People with PTLDS are usually left paying out of pocket for any treatments they pursue. Another organization, the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS), proposes a different label and diagnostic guidelines for post-acute Lyme disease TAKEAWAY: Persistent Lyme disease symptoms are common and serious, but the health- care community is deeply divided about how to care for patients with this problem. Massage therapists can help by establishing a safe environment and being supportive of clients with long- term Lyme disease consequences.