Lyme Science Blog

While many people treated for Lyme disease recover completely, a significant number develop chronic Lyme disease with persistent symptoms that continue long after standard antibiotics. These patients often report having ongoing fatigue, pain, sleep disturbance, neurological changes, and emotional strain that disrupts their lives. Understanding the risk factors for chronic Lyme disease is important for […]

Low-dose naltrexone (LDN) has gained growing attention as a potential supportive therapy for people with chronic Lyme disease and persistent symptoms that may not fully resolve with antibiotics. Originally developed as a treatment for opioid and alcohol dependence, naltrexone in much smaller doses appears to have immune-modulating and anti-inflammatory effects. For patients struggling with lingering

Chronic Pain in Lyme disease Doesn’t Follow the Rules Maria came to my office with a pain map that looked like a medical mystery. “It was in my knee last month, then my shoulder, now it’s in my ribs,” she explained, frustrated. “Every doctor thinks I’m making it up because nothing shows on X-rays.” This

In medicine, Occam’s razor teaches that the simplest explanation is often the right one. But for chronic Lyme, this idea is sometimes used against patients. Ongoing symptoms are too quickly explained away with theories that don’t fit the real experience. The simplest answer—that the infection may not have been fully cleared—deserves more careful attention. The

The Winter Myth That Puts People at Risk Many assume freezing temperatures wipe out ticks. As a Lyme disease specialist, I can tell you this isn’t the case. Ticks survive winter in the Northeast by sheltering under leaves, soil, and snow, allowing them to reemerge as soon as conditions warm. This means Lyme disease is

Why Lyme Antibiotic Resistance Matters Lyme antibiotic resistance is an emerging concern in patient care. While resistance is often discussed in the context of hospital-acquired infections or global health, it also affects those with tick-borne diseases. Patients with Lyme sometimes require multiple antibiotic courses, especially if the infection is diagnosed late or involves the nervous

Lyme disease in adolescents doesn’t always start with the classic bull’s-eye rash. Rashes can appear as solid red patches or unusual shapes, sometimes mistaken for spider bites, eczema, or skin infections. Teens may also show signs like fatigue, irritability, headaches, or limb pain. Because symptoms vary so much, misdiagnosis is common. That’s why healthcare providers

A new study has revealed alarming trends in chronic pain across America — prevalence jumped from 21% in 2019 to 24% in 2023, now affecting 60 million adults. While researchers attributed about 13% of this increase to long-COVID, a significant portion remains unexplained. As a physician specializing in tick-borne diseases, I believe we’re missing a

Spinal Taps: A troubling trend I’ve noticed a troubling trend in Lyme disease care. Some patients are being told they need a spinal tap (lumbar puncture) to “rule out neurological Lyme disease.” While spinal taps are important in cases like suspected meningitis, their role in evaluating Lyme is much more limited. Too often, patients go