Lyme Science Blog

Can Lyme Disease Cause Allodynia? When Normal Touch Becomes Painful When normal touch becomes painful, the nervous system may be involved. Lyme disease can affect both sensory and autonomic nerve fibers. Burning pain, allodynia, and POTS may share the same neurologic root. Can Lyme disease cause allodynia? Yes. In some patients, Lyme disease can trigger […]

New Lyme Disease Treatment? What Piperacillin Research Really Shows Piperacillin cleared Lyme bacteria in mice at very low doses. But mice are not humans with chronic Lyme disease. Important clinical questions remain unanswered. A recent study published in Science Translational Medicine by researchers at Northwestern University has generated cautious optimism in the Lyme disease community.

Lyme Disease After Pregnancy: Can Symptoms Appear Postpartum? Postpartum Lyme symptoms can appear after delivery Pregnancy-related immune changes may mask symptoms Lyme disease can occur without a known tick bite A 23-year-old woman from Brooklyn, New York, presented to her primary care physician with bilateral knee swelling and pain three days after delivering a healthy

Who Are Ticks Attracted To? What Makes You a Target Ticks detect body heat, carbon dioxide, sweat, and movement. Active outdoor people and pet owners face higher exposure risk. Understanding what attracts ticks is the first step toward prevention. Quick Answer: Ticks are attracted to carbon dioxide, body heat, sweat, scent, and movement. People who

Can Lyme Disease Cause Depression? Lyme disease can cause depression-like symptoms, including fatigue, low mood, brain fog, and loss of motivation. Symptoms often fluctuate and may occur alongside pain, neurologic symptoms, and sleep disturbance. When mood symptoms do not fully fit a psychiatric diagnosis alone, a broader medical evaluation may be necessary. Yes—Lyme disease can

Could Lyme Disease Be Wrecking Your Gut Without You Knowing It? Have you ever felt like your gut was in chaos—like nothing you eat sits right, no doctor can find a clear cause, and your symptoms don’t seem to make sense? You’re not alone. I’ve had many patients tell me they’ve tried everything—probiotics, elimination diets,

Why Lyme Disease Affects People Differently: Mild to Severe Illness Lyme disease does not affect every patient the same way. Some recover quickly while others develop persistent symptoms. Delayed diagnosis and co-infections may worsen outcomes. “I thought I was better… until I wasn’t.” One of my patients told me this after completing a standard course

Why Are Ticks So Hated? They’re small, stealthy, and surprisingly dangerous. Ticks have long held a place among the most disliked creatures in nature—and not without reason. While they may appear harmless at first glance, ticks are highly adapted parasites capable of transmitting serious infections to both humans and animals. This article explores why ticks

Post-Exertional Malaise in Lyme Disease: Why Pacing Matters Post-exertional malaise in Lyme disease can trigger delayed crashes after physical, mental, or emotional effort. Patients may feel functional during activity—then worsen 12 to 48 hours later. Pacing helps stabilize symptoms by matching activity to physiologic capacity. Post-exertional malaise in Lyme disease is a pattern many patients

Babesia Blood Transfusion: How One Unit Changed Everything Babesia can spread through blood transfusions Patients without tick exposure may still become infected Delayed diagnosis can worsen outcomes in vulnerable individuals When we think of Babesia, we often picture tick bites and outdoor exposure in wooded areas. But Babesia can also spread silently through the blood