Can You Work With Lyme Disease?
Many Lyme disease patients continue working
Fatigue, pain, and brain fog can affect job performance
Studies show Lyme disease may reduce productivity and work capacity
Many people with Lyme disease continue working during treatment. However, fatigue, pain, neurologic symptoms, sleep disruption, and brain fog can make it difficult for some individuals to maintain their usual workload.
Several studies have examined how Lyme disease affects employment, productivity, and long-term functioning. Their findings suggest that while many patients remain employed, others may require reduced schedules, workplace accommodations, or early retirement because of ongoing symptoms.
How Lyme Disease Affects Work Performance
Doctors from the Tufts University School of Medicine and New England Medical Center described the financial impact Lyme disease had on 27 individuals with chronic neurologic Lyme disease.
“Although most were able to remain employed, three quit their jobs, three decreased their work load to part-time, and two retired earlier,” according to lead author Logigian.2
Researchers found that neurologic symptoms, fatigue, pain, and cognitive difficulties could affect a patient’s ability to maintain full-time employment.
Difficulty concentrating, memory problems, and slowed processing speed are among the symptoms most likely to interfere with workplace performance. Learn more about brain fog and Lyme disease.
What Studies Show About Jobs and Productivity
Another study, published in Emerging Infectious Diseases, examined the economic impact of Lyme disease among patients living in five counties along Maryland’s Eastern Shore between 1997 and 2000.3
Investigators found that more than 50% of the total costs associated with Lyme disease were due to productivity losses.
For patients with early Lyme disease, the average annual cost was $16,199, with $8,785 attributed to lost productivity.
“We used patient-reported time lost from work to estimate productivity losses due to Lyme disease,” explained Zhang from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).3
For children younger than 15 years of age, the investigators included lost work time for parents who needed to care for their children during illness.
Can Lyme Disease Lead to Disability?
The impact of Lyme disease on daily functioning may continue even after treatment.
Among 76 patients with early Lyme disease, 11 (14.47%) met criteria for post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS) despite receiving a 3-week course of antibiotics.3
Another study found that 11% of patients treated for culture-confirmed early Lyme disease experienced possible PTLDS a decade after treatment.
Persistent symptoms may include fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, difficulty concentrating, memory impairment, and reduced physical functioning.
Although Lyme disease itself is not automatically considered a disability, persistent symptoms may significantly affect an individual’s ability to work and perform daily activities.
For additional information, see post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome and persistent Lyme disease symptoms.
Workplace Accommodations for Lyme Disease
Some Lyme disease patients are able to continue working with accommodations such as flexible schedules, remote work, reduced hours, additional breaks, or temporary medical leave during recovery.
The need for accommodations depends on symptom severity, job requirements, and the duration of illness.
Many patients are able to return to normal work activities as symptoms improve.
Persistent Symptoms and Productivity
Twenty-nine (38.16%) of 76 Lyme disease patients in a Johns Hopkins study met the “symptoms only” criteria despite continuing to function on quality-of-life measures.5
These patients reported persistent fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, and cognitive complaints, including difficulty finding words, concentrating, focusing, and memory impairment.
The investigators did not specifically evaluate the effect of these symptoms on workplace productivity.
Clinical Perspective
The risk of Lyme disease affecting employment highlights the importance of early diagnosis and effective treatment. Fatigue, pain, cognitive dysfunction, and neurologic symptoms may affect a patient’s ability to work, even when objective measures of functioning appear normal.
Several investigators have proposed additional approaches for managing persistent symptoms, including cognitive rehabilitation, pain management strategies, and treatments directed at immune-related mechanisms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you work with Lyme disease?
Many individuals continue working while being treated for Lyme disease. However, fatigue, pain, and cognitive symptoms may affect productivity and work performance.
How long can Lyme disease keep you out of work?
The impact varies widely. Some patients recover quickly, while others experience symptoms that interfere with work for months or longer.
Is Lyme disease a disability?
Persistent symptoms such as fatigue, pain, neurologic dysfunction, and cognitive impairment may significantly affect an individual’s ability to work and function.
Can Lyme disease cause brain fog at work?
Yes. Difficulty concentrating, memory problems, slowed processing speed, and word-finding difficulties are common complaints among patients with persistent Lyme disease symptoms.
Clinical Takeaway
Many Lyme disease patients continue working during treatment and recovery. However, fatigue, pain, neurologic symptoms, and brain fog can affect productivity, work performance, and long-term employment. Studies demonstrate that Lyme disease may carry substantial economic costs through lost productivity, reduced work capacity, and persistent symptoms that affect daily functioning.
Related Articles
Persistent Lyme disease symptoms
Post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome
References
- Adrion ER, Aucott J, Lemke KW, Weiner JP. Health Care Costs, Utilization and Patterns of Care following Lyme Disease. PLOS One. 2015.
- Logigian EL, Kaplan RF, Steere AC. Chronic neurologic manifestations of Lyme disease. N Engl J Med. 1990;323(21):1438-1444.
- Zhang X, Meltzer MI, Pena CA, Hopkins AB, Wroth L, Fix AD. Economic impact of Lyme disease. Emerg Infect Dis. 2006;12(4):653-660.
- Wormser GP, Dattwyler RJ, Shapiro ED, et al. The clinical assessment, treatment, and prevention of Lyme disease, human granulocytic anaplasmosis, and babesiosis. Clin Infect Dis. 2006;43(9):1089-1134.
- Aucott JN, Soloski MJ, Rebman AW, et al. CCL19 as a Chemokine Risk Factor for Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome. Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2016.
Dr. Daniel Cameron, MD, MPH
Lyme disease clinician with over 30 years of experience and past president of ILADS.
Symptoms • Testing • Coinfections • Recovery • Pediatric • Prevention
From the time the searing pain began in both arms to the time I was officially diagnosed a year had passed. After having to take off the first three months of my time with these symptoms, to diagnosis, I lost over four months of work. Then I had to take off the first three months of treatments due to severe nausea, vomiting, pain. Etc. Then I was “let go”. I tried to go back but lacked the energy and stamina to perform my job. I disagree with the sum of $3000 being spent on treatment. Most of us would give anything to be well. But, lack of income and lack of access to LLMDs keep most of us from needed care. We end up becoming the researcher, doctor, activist and patient. We do our best to keep from a backward slide. And my insurance companies have denied every single claim. Every cent paid has been out of pocket. And that financial burden cost me my good credit rating, my savings and almost my marriage.