Lyme Arthritis Treatment: Do You Need Surgery for Knee Swelling? Persistent knee swelling can remain after treatment Synovectomy targets inflammation, not Lyme disease itself Treatment decisions should consider the whole patient She had been ill for nearly two years when synovectomy for Lyme arthritis was recommended. Her knee remained swollen, painful, and limiting despite treatment […]
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Worse After a Spinal Tap? CSF Leak or Lyme Disease Progression 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 patients, the procedure itself may complicate the clinical picture
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Visual Snow Syndrome: Why Symptoms Are Missed Despite Normal Tests 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 may describe flickering dots, shimmering air, graininess, afterimages, or a haze layered across their visual field. Visual snow syndrome is often missed because
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How to Exercise in Lyme Disease When You’re Homebound “I tried to do a little more… and now I can’t get off the couch.” For many patients, exercise in Lyme disease does not mean workouts or training sessions. It may mean trying to stand, shower, or walk across a room without triggering a crash afterward.
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Lyme vs Long COVID: Why Symptoms Overlap and Get Missed Lyme vs Long COVID can be difficult to tell apart Brain fog, dizziness, fatigue, and dysautonomia may overlap Careful clinical evaluation matters when symptoms persist “Is this Lyme… or long COVID?” Patients ask me this with a mix of fear and exhaustion. They describe the
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Lyme Disease Alcohol Intolerance: Why You Can’t Tolerate Alcohol Anymore Lyme disease alcohol intolerance is a common but often overlooked symptom involving autonomic dysfunction, immune sensitivity, and altered physiologic resilience. Many patients describe a striking shift after becoming ill. What was once an ordinary social experience becomes unpredictable and uncomfortable, with flushing, dizziness, anxiety, nausea,
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Post-Exertional Malaise in Lyme Disease Explained Many patients with Lyme disease describe a confusing pattern: they complete a workout, busy day, or stressful activity without immediate difficulty — only to crash hours later. Post-exertional malaise (PEM) refers to a delayed worsening of symptoms after physical, cognitive, or emotional exertion. Instead of symptoms appearing during activity,
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Tooth Discoloration After Antibiotics in Lyme Disease: Causes and Reversible Solutions Black stains on teeth can look frightening. But antibiotic-related discoloration is often reversible. Sometimes the enamel underneath is completely healthy. A Case That Surprised Both Patient and Clinician One of my patients recently developed black teeth after taking antibiotics for Lyme disease. The discoloration
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Why Am I So Sensitive to Light and Sound? Light and sound sensitivity can feel overwhelming. Lyme disease may affect sensory processing pathways. Neuroinflammation and autonomic dysfunction may play a role. For some Lyme disease patients, light sensitivity in Lyme disease and sound sensitivity are among the earliest and most disruptive neurologic symptoms. The brightness
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Lyme Tinnitus and Ear Fullness: Causes and Why It Won’t Stop Lyme tinnitus and ear fullness can be persistent and unsettling—especially when your hearing tests are normal, yet the ringing, pressure, or blocked sensation won’t go away. Many patients are told “everything looks fine.” But in Lyme disease, these symptoms often reflect neurologic, inflammatory, and
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