Lyme Science Blog

Lyme disease causes bilateral facial palsy Bilateral facial palsy (paralysis or weakness on both sides of the face) is extremely rare and can be caused by an autoimmune condition, infections, such as Lyme disease, or trauma. Bilateral facial palsy due to Lyme disease has rarely been reported in the literature. A recent article by Cheng […]

Lyme Disease and Mental Health My patient had a long-standing history of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) that had been well-controlled for years. However, after being diagnosed with Lyme disease and completing a standard course of antibiotics, he began experiencing a significant resurgence of obsessive rumination. His mental health declined as he fixated on every symptom, convinced

Can Lyme Disease Come Back Years Later? Can Lyme disease come back years later—even after treatment? Many patients experience a return of fatigue, pain, brain fog, or neurologic symptoms months or even years after they thought they had recovered. Quick answer: Lyme symptoms can return years later due to persistent infection, untreated co-infections, immune and

I never learned about Lyme disease in Medical School During my medical school, graduate school, and residency, Lyme disease simply wasn’t part of the medical school curriculum. At the time, Lyme disease had not yet fully entered the medical lexicon. The condition was still considered rare and geographically limited, far from the major public health

What’s the worst that can happen with Lyme disease? Severe Lyme disease can affect the joints, nervous system, heart, and brain—especially when diagnosis or treatment is delayed. In some cases, symptoms persist or worsen over time, leading to long-term complications. It starts small. A tick bite you never noticed. A fever that comes and goes.

Can Lyme Disease Cause Permanent Damage? Can Lyme disease cause permanent damage? In some cases, yes—especially if diagnosis and treatment are delayed. Lyme disease can affect the joints, nervous system, heart, and cognitive function, and some symptoms may persist over time. Quick Answer: Lyme disease can lead to long-term or permanent complications involving the brain,

Can You Feel a Tick on You? The Short Answer: Sometimes — But Often Not If you’ve ever wondered, “Can you feel a tick on you?”, you’re not alone. Many patients assume they would notice a tick crawling or biting. In reality, ticks are exceptionally stealthy. In many cases, you won’t feel them at all—especially

Finding a Doctor Who Treats Chronic Lyme: What to Look For What should you look for in a doctor who treats chronic Lyme disease? Many patients begin searching after months—or even years—of fatigue, brain fog, pain, and frustration when symptoms don’t fit a single diagnosis. For a concise overview of what defines an experienced Lyme

Lyme Disease Recovery and Long-Term Outlook For a complete overview of recovery, see our Lyme disease recovery guide. Post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS) is a research-defined term used to describe persistent symptoms following recommended antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease when no alternative diagnosis explains the clinical picture. PTLDS represents one framework for understanding persistent symptoms