She had been ill for nearly two years when synovectomy for Lyme arthritis was recommended. Her knee remained swollen, painful, and limiting despite treatment for Lyme arthritis. She had completed antibiotic therapy. When the swelling persisted, she was told the infection had been treated and what remained was inflammation. Surgery was presented as the next […]
Synovectomy for Lyme Arthritis Read More »
When Lyme Symptoms Worsen After a Spinal Tap Lumbar puncture is sometimes performed in patients with suspected neurologic Lyme disease to aid diagnosis. However, the relationship between spinal tap leak and Lyme disease is often overlooked, particularly when symptoms worsen after testing. In some cases, the procedure itself may complicate the clinical picture rather than
Spinal Tap Leak and Lyme Disease: Worse After Testing Read More »
Visual Snow Syndrome: When the World Looks Like Static Visual snow syndrome is a neurologic condition in which people see constant visual static—often described as television-like noise—despite normal eye exams. Patients frequently struggle to explain what they see. Some describe graininess across their entire visual field. Others notice flickering dots, shimmering air, or a haze
Visual Snow Syndrome: When the World Looks Like Static Read More »
The Moment Everything Changed: Beginning Exercise in Lyme Disease My patient didn’t ask how to get back to running. She whispered, “I tried to do a little more… and now I can’t get off the couch.” Her experience is something I see often when patients try to exercise in Lyme disease—small movements feel enormous, and
How to Exercise in Lyme Disease When You’re Homebound Read More »
When Lyme vs Long COVID Feels Impossible to Tell Apart “Is this Lyme… or long COVID?” Patients ask me this with a mix of fear and exhaustion. They describe the same constellation of symptoms — the brain fog that makes conversations feel slippery, the dizziness that hits out of nowhere, the heart that races as
Lyme vs Long COVID: The Overlap Doctors Need to See Read More »
Many Lyme patients tell me the same story: “I used to tolerate a glass of wine — now it wipes me out.” What was once an ordinary social experience becomes unpredictable and uncomfortable. This shift is a hallmark of Lyme alcohol intolerance — a physiological change that now brings flushing, dizziness, anxiety, nausea, or next-day
Lyme Alcohol Intolerance: Why can’t I tolerate alcohol anymore? Read More »
Introduction: A Clinical Guide to Post-Exertional Malaise in Lyme Disease Patients often tell me they can complete a workout or a busy day without any immediate problem, only to crash hours later. This phenomenon—called post-exertional malaise Lyme patients frequently experience—is one of the most misunderstood patterns in post-infectious illness. Instead of symptoms appearing during exertion,
Post-Exertional Malaise in Lyme Explained Read More »
A Case That Surprised Both Patient and Clinician One of my patients recently developed black teeth after taking antibiotics for Lyme disease. The discoloration appeared suddenly and was deeply alarming to her — dark streaks and patches that looked like severe decay or even necrosis. She feared something irreversible had happened. But when she visited
Black Teeth After Antibiotics in Lyme Disease: Causes and Reversible Solutions Read More »
Light feels sharper. Sound feels louder. Ordinary environments suddenly become overwhelming. For some Lyme disease patients, sensitivity to light and sound is one of the earliest and most disruptive neurologic symptoms. The brightness of the kitchen lights may feel blinding, and the sound of a spoon dropping can trigger a jolt of discomfort. Patients often
Why Am I So Sensitive to Light and Sound? Read More »
Lyme-related Tinnitus and Ear Fullness Patients often ask me whether Lyme disease can cause tinnitus or ear fullness. The answer is yes — Lyme tinnitus and ear fullness are well-recognized presentations. Many patients describe ringing or hissing sounds, fluctuating pressure, crackling sensations, a feeling of water trapped in the ear, distorted sound perception, and hypersensitivity
Can Lyme Cause Tinnitus or Ear Fullness? Read More »
