Recognizing knee pain associated with Lyme disease
“In our rural health center in Maine, Lyme disease is the most common cause of acute non-injury-related knee pain and swelling, usually presenting as unilateral, red, and warm,” writes Dr. Miller in a recent letter to the American Family Practice journal. “It can also be transitory and migratory. Many patients are unaware of having had a tick bite.” [1]
Dr. Miller often treats empirically. “Because early treatment of Lyme disease decreases the chance of chronic symptoms, we often treat empirically with doxycycline while awaiting results of antibody testing. Travelers to high-risk areas may return home and develop symptoms weeks later.”
Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31259503
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References:
- Miller R. Lyme Disease As Possible Contributing Factor for Knee Pain. Am Fam Physician. 2019;100(1):4.
Josh Goldstein
03/20/2024 (3:08 pm)
I tested positive for Lyme in June of 2023. Took 2 weeks of antibiotics. Had flu like symptoms for a week or so. Everything seemed to calm down. February of 2024 tested positive with Covid. A week after testing positive I’ve been having numbness and tightness in my right knee. Could this be a possible flare up of Lyme.
Dr. Daniel Cameron
03/21/2024 (9:04 am)
I have seen patients who thought they had long covid but turned to have a flareup of Lyme disease.
E B
10/11/2023 (6:29 pm)
I was bit by a tick over 9 years ago. I became ill with a summer “flu” and also reproductive system issues. Since then, I’ve been diagnosed with sacroilitis and patellar tendonitis and bursitis (one knee doubled in size) in 2020, post concussion syndrome, and mostly recently no diagnoses for systemic illness for over a yearyear: multiple joint pain, muscle pain, chest pain, abdominal pain, debilitating fatigue, neurological and cognitive issues such as numbness and tingling in intermittent extremities, difficulty swallowing, brain fog, dizziness, vertigo, tinnitus, and memory, concentration, delayed response, and difficulty with word recall to name a few. The only abnormal finding thus far is lyme antibodies and a reactive but negative western blot, depleted iron stores, and insufficient vitamin d. I was treated with 30 days of amoxicillin and had a severe reaction with worsening symptoms and new ones emerging like tremors that I went to urgent care for because I didn’t know what was happening. I still don’t know why it happened. After the treatment, I am significantly better but still have knee pain, stiff neck and shoulder pain, and some neurological and cognitive issues. I have no diagnoses. I was told that the worsening of symptoms and the ones I have left are psychosomatic. I was told that I don’t feel better due to antibiotic treatment. The health care providers tell me nothing is wrong. I don’t know what to do.
Dr. Daniel Cameron
10/12/2023 (6:58 am)
I have patients who flareup due to a Herxheimer reaction when starting treatment for Lyme disease. I find gains after antibiotics worth a second look in my patients.
E B
10/12/2023 (9:53 am)
Thank you. That’s more validation than I’ve had from my entire care team. I’ve been left to do extensive research on my own, support myself through it, and just assert that this is what happened to me. The fact that I’m doing 90% better after antibiotics is proof to me. I asked for a new lyme test to see if there was a change in antibodies but was denied even though the language on the test results itself recommends testing a future sample due to the reactivity to multiple bands. I will have to seek out a new doctor. I never thought I’d find myself sick and treated so inhumanely. An infectious disease provider has gone to great lengths to deligitimize me, and it’s so surreal. I saw the politicization of covid, but I never thought I’d get sick and become part of a “political” science circus. I’m just trying to get better. I appreciate you taking the time out of your busy day to say a few words. Thank you, again.
Dr. Daniel Cameron
10/13/2023 (7:50 am)
You mentioned “politicization of covid.” The Lyme disease community has seen “politicization of Lyme” for decades.
E B
10/13/2023 (2:37 pm)
I have learned this the hard way. It’s a shame, and I don’t understand the debate. I would’ve been better off contracting syphilis. It’s insanity. I never could have imagined that healing and feeling better would be turned into something scandoulous and taboo or I would be attacked by health care providers because I asserted what when on inside my body. I am deeply sorry for anyone that has been through this and continues to go through it. Keep up the good fight, doc. Patients need healthcare providers like you!
Dr. Daniel Cameron
10/14/2023 (8:30 am)
Thanks for your encouragement.
Hannan Ahmad
10/05/2023 (1:36 am)
The correlation between knee pain and Lyme disease, especially in some rural regions, underscores the complexities of diagnosis. Often, patients might overlook seemingly unrelated symptoms like a past tick bite, making the clinician’s role pivotal in connecting the dots. Understanding such nuances can lead to more timely and accurate interventions, emphasizing the need for continuous education and awareness among patients and healthcare providers.
Cheri O'Hare
10/02/2022 (3:15 pm)
My left knee suddenly blew up to about twice the size of my right knee about 2 1/2 weeks ago. It is very stiff and difficult to bend. I’ve done RICE method since (as much as I can) and no real relief. Went to an orthopedic knee doctor a few days ago; had X-rays and he manipulated the knee, no pain or abnormalities present that we can tell. He believes it may be Lyme, but I am not aware of having been bitten. Aleve, ibuprofen and other natural anti-inflammatory remedies are not helping (acv, lemon, cinnamon, ginger, cayenne pepper tonic). Compression seems to aggravate it if worn too long. Any other ideas I can try to alleviate the stiffness and swelling. Lyme test has been drawn…waiting for results.
Dr. Daniel Cameron
10/03/2022 (12:36 pm)
I have had to treat some of my patients with knee swelling for Lyme disease if I cannot find another cause for the problem and the tests are negative.