Lyme Science Blog

Lyme Disease Pain: Why It Moves and Feels Different Maria came to my office with a pain map that looked exactly that way. “It was in my knee last month, then my shoulder, now it’s in my ribs,” she explained. “Every doctor thinks I’m making it up because nothing shows on X-rays.” Lyme disease pain […]

Occam’s Razor and Chronic Lyme: Are We Missing the Simplest Answer? The simplest answer may be ignored Symptoms are often reinterpreted Alternative labels replace diagnosis Persistent infection may be missed Occam’s razor in chronic Lyme disease is often misapplied. Instead of identifying the simplest unifying cause, persistent symptoms are frequently explained away with theories that

Do Ticks Survive the Winter in the Northeast? Quick Answer: Yes. Ticks survive winter in the Northeast by sheltering under leaves, soil, and snow. They can become active on mild days above 35–40°F, so Lyme disease risk continues year-round. The Winter Myth That Puts People at Risk Many assume freezing temperatures wipe out ticks. As

Lyme Antibiotic Resistance: Why Treatment Isn’t Always Simple Lyme disease often responds to antibiotics. But not every patient recovers the same way. And resistance concerns are growing. Lyme antibiotic resistance is an emerging concern in patient care—especially as treatment decisions become more complex. While antibiotic resistance is often discussed in hospital infections or global health,

Lyme Disease in Teens: Why Symptoms Are Often Missed Lyme disease in teens doesn’t always look typical. Symptoms can be subtle, shifting, or misleading. And diagnosis is often delayed. Lyme disease in teens does not always begin with the classic bull’s-eye rash. Rashes may appear as solid red patches or unusual shapes and can be

Chronic Pain Is Rising—Is Lyme Disease Being Missed? Chronic pain is increasing nationwide. Not all of it is explained by long COVID. Lyme disease may be part of the missing link. A new study found that chronic pain among U.S. adults increased from 21% in 2019 to 24% in 2023—now affecting nearly 60 million people.

Spinal Tap for Lyme Disease: Do You Really Need One? “Do I really need a spinal tap for Lyme disease?” This is a common question—and an important one. Spinal taps (lumbar punctures) are often recommended to “rule out neurologic Lyme disease.” But in many cases, they do not provide the answers patients expect. While spinal

Lyme Rash Misdiagnosis: Not Always a Bull’s-Eye A bull’s-eye rash is often associated with Lyme disease, but the opposite problem is common — Lyme rash misdiagnosis. Many patients with Lyme disease never develop the classic bull’s-eye pattern. When clinicians rely on that textbook image alone, early infection can be overlooked. When people search for “bullseye

Why Medicine Must Not Abandon Lyme Patients This discussion highlights ethical failures that occur when patients are dismissed in the face of diagnostic uncertainty. Abandoning Lyme patients violates the core principles of medical ethics. A woman in her 40’s came to me after months of searching for answers. She had been a successful business executive,

Bartonella Psychiatric Symptoms: Anxiety, Mood Changes, and Misdiagnosis Bartonella psychiatric symptoms are often mistaken for primary mental health conditions—especially when anxiety, agitation, or mood changes appear suddenly without a clear explanation. Some patients are told their symptoms are stress, panic disorder, or treatment-resistant depression. But when these symptoms emerge alongside physical complaints or a history