The Lyme Disease CRPS Connection: When Infection Drives Pain
Introduction (with keyphrase included)
The Lyme disease CRPS connection isn’t widely recognized—but it can change how we understand chronic pain.
A man in Slovenia developed unexplained, severe limb pain that wouldn’t respond to standard treatment.
X-rays and scans pointed to Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), yet blood tests revealed active Lyme disease.When doctors treated the infection, both conditions completely resolved.
- This landmark 2002 case, published in Infection by Šibanc and colleagues, was one of the first to reveal the Lyme disease–CRPS connection—and to show that treating infection could reverse what appeared to be intractable nerve pain.
Understanding the Lyme Disease–CRPS Connection
Although rare, CRPS (formerly Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy) can appear after infection, including Lyme disease.
Two types:
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Type I: Pain without documented nerve damage
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Type II: Documented nerve injury present
Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes Lyme disease, can invade peripheral nerves, triggering inflammation or immune responses that mimic CRPS.
What CRPS Feels Like
Patients describe burning, disproportionate pain, sometimes so severe that even light touch hurts (allodynia).
The affected limb may be swollen, pale, or mottled, with temperature shifts, stiffness, and weakness.
Over time, the nervous system becomes hypersensitive, limiting movement and quality of life.
🚩 When to Suspect CRPS After Lyme Disease
After Lyme infection, pain that defies exam findings should raise suspicion.
Patients may feel burning or throbbing pain, swelling, color changes, or temperature differences between limbs.
When these symptoms persist despite treatment, clinicians should consider CRPS early.
Tip for Clinicians: In my clinical practice, I’ve seen patients develop CRPS-like pain after Lyme disease—cases where standard pain therapies failed until infection and inflammation were directly addressed. Early recognition and multidisciplinary care can prevent chronic nerve sensitization and long-term disability.
The Takeaway
The Lyme disease CRPS connection shows how infection-driven nerve inflammation can masquerade as chronic pain. The Šibanc case reminds us that some CRPS cases may be infection-related and reversible.
If you experience unexplained limb pain after Lyme disease, ask about the Lyme disease CRPS connection—and whether treating inflammation or infection might help. Early recognition can prevent disability.
Have you experienced CRPS-like pain after Lyme disease that improved with treatment?
Share your story below—your experience could help others find answers sooner.
⚠️ Not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider.
Hello Dr Cameron,
I had undiagnosed Lyme for 7 years. I was bitten in 1992 but thought it was a spider bite. I kept a diary of symptoms and three months later I saw an Internal Medicine MD. He tested me for everything except Lyme.
My first symptom was brain related. I couldn’t balance my simple business checking account. My job before that was Payroll Manager for a large oil company and all of their convenient stores in GA and FL.
My symptoms included brain fog, ADHD, Panic Attacks and I felt like I had Dylexia as I was teaching at my massage school and started writing letters backwards and suddenly had trouble spelling. Before Lyme I had a photographic memory and won spelling bees in school.
I would be driving and get to an intersection that I no longer recognized. I would easily get lost.
Once my husband and I went to lunch at a buffet restaurant. After getting my food I got lost for a few minutes and could not remember how to get back to our table.
After a few months I started having pain all over my body. The pain would move from knees, shoulders, hips, etc. Eventually I had unexplained pain over most of my body with burning pain in my mid to upper back. This was especially bad if I over worked my body.
If I got too many massages, which would happen when testing our students, I would go into severe flu like symptoms and all over pain.
I learned if I went to a gym after this and detoxed using the sauna, hot tub and steam room, the symptoms were much less.
I was disabled for about 7 years with all of these symptoms. I was referred to a rhumatologist who pretty much dismissed my symptoms. I would often cry in his office. My knees hurt so bad but xrays showed my joints were good.
He did recommend massage which I got weekly. I know this helped me keep working.
He told me that my inflammation was so high that I would most likely get Lupus. I asked if he could help me prevent Lupus. He said he would treat me early to slow the symptoms. I never went back to him.
I started taking Juice Plus (fruits and veggies vine ripeed, juiced, dried at a low tempature and put in capsules and changed my diet. I went to Herb School and learned about cleansing all the systems of my body.
I cleansed and norurished for 2 years and I started feeling normal again.
I finally found an Infectious Disease MD in Atlanta who treats Lyme.
Testing showed I had high antibodies for Lyme but not an active infection.
I feel like I have overcome at least 95% of Lyme symptoms and live a fairly active life now at age 73.
I was a 41 year old high energy woman when I got Lyme. I continue to do everything I can to improve my health and am so thankful to have overcome this debilitaing disease.
Sadie McElroy