Lyme Science Blog

Sciatica vs SI Joint Pain in Lyme Disease: How to Tell the Difference Sciatica vs SI joint pain is one of the most common—and most confusing—diagnostic challenges in patients with low back, buttock, and leg pain. Many patients are told they have sciatica simply because pain travels into the leg. But pain location alone does […]

What Is “End-Stage” Lyme Disease? Patients sometimes come to my office using the phrase “end-stage Lyme disease.” It is a powerful term, and it reflects how profoundly ill they feel. However, late-stage Lyme disease is not a formal medical diagnosis. Most often, patients are using this language to describe severe, persistent illness consistent with late

What Is Alpha-gal Syndrome? The Tick Bite That Causes Red Meat Allergy Alpha-gal red meat allergy is a tick-borne food allergy that can cause delayed reactions to mammalian meat and other mammalian products. Many patients diagnosed with this condition immediately worry they have developed another chronic illness. That fear is understandable—especially for individuals with a

Shania Twain’s Lyme Disease: When Neurologic Symptoms Affect the Voice Quick Answer: Lyme disease can occasionally affect the nervous system in ways that interfere with speech, vocal control, and muscle coordination. Singer Shania Twain has described losing control of her voice following Lyme disease, highlighting how neurologic symptoms may appear in unexpected ways. Most people

The Ethical Cost of Dismissing PTLDS The ethical challenges of post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS) often begin at the moment symptoms persist after treatment. Patients may do everything right—receive a timely diagnosis, complete recommended antibiotics, and follow medical advice—yet continue to worsen. This is not simply a clinical dilemma. It is an ethical one. Why

Lyme Disease Gut Problems: Gastrointestinal Dysregulation and Motility Issues Many patients with Lyme disease develop gastrointestinal symptoms that persist despite dietary changes, fiber supplementation, hydration, or normal testing. Symptoms may include constipation, bloating, early satiety, nausea, abdominal discomfort, or a constant sense that digestion is not moving forward properly. In Lyme disease, these symptoms most

Central Sensitization in Lyme Disease: Why Pain Persists Pain may persist even after Lyme disease treatment Central sensitization can amplify pain and sensory input Autonomic dysfunction and nerve injury may overlap Central sensitization in Lyme disease may help explain why some patients continue to experience pain, fatigue, hypersensitivity, and neurologic symptoms long after initial treatment.

Why Am I Exhausted After Sleeping? Lyme Disease and Non-Restorative Sleep Many patients with Lyme disease describe the same experience: they sleep through the night yet wake feeling depleted. Feeling exhausted despite sleeping often reflects what clinicians describe as non-restorative sleep, a state in which sleep occurs but the body does not complete its normal

Brain Fog and Cognitive Dysfunction in Lyme Disease: Symptoms and Causes Many patients with Lyme disease describe a frustrating and often frightening experience: they can no longer think the way they used to. Brain fog in Lyme disease reflects slowed thinking, poor concentration, and memory problems driven by neurologic and inflammatory changes. Concentration becomes harder.