Lyme disease is an infection caused by bacteria transmitted by a tick bite. Other names for Lyme disease are borreliosis or Bannwarth syndrome. There are four kinds of bacteria that can cause the disease. Two species, Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia mayonii, are found in the United States, and another two, Borrelia afzelii and Borrelia garinii are found in Europe and Asia. The black-legged tick, commonly known as a deer tick, contracts the disease from biting diseased mice or deer. In addition to Lyme disease, they can also transmit other disease-causing bacteria, viruses, and parasites, which are referred to as coinfections.
One of the first signs of the disease is a red rash appearing anywhere on your body, from 3 to 30 days after being bitten, and sometimes appearing as a bull’s-eye or oval shape. If you notice this, take a picture and seek medical attention as soon as possible. It’s important to get treatment right away, as early treatment with antibiotics is usually successful, and most people will have a quick and complete recovery. The bacteria move swiftly through the central nervous system and other areas of the body, such as the joints and heart, so the longer treatment is delayed, the more difficult it becomes to treat.
1. Joint Pain
Joint pain is one of the main symptoms of Lyme Disease, and about two thirds of the people that experience this symptom will have their first occurrence within six months of infection. The joints may become inflamed and feel warm. The pain may be sporadic and move to different parts of the body. The pain may be severe at times, and affect more than one joint. The larger joints are often most affected. You may suffer knee pain one day, and then neck pain during another. You could develop bursitis, which is painful inflammation of the area or cushion, between bones and surrounding tissues. Joint pain is often associated with Lyme disease and this should be considered when investigating potential causes, as most people attribute joint issues to age or a sports injury instead.
2. Fatigue
Fatigue is another common symptom of Lyme disease, sometimes sapping all your energy and becoming severe. It will be accompanied by recurrent flu-like symptoms that come and go. Feeling tired, exhausted, and having no energy becomes the norm. You may sleep longer or need to take a nap during daytime hours. The feeling of being very tired all the time with no explanation as to why is common. Most children and adults with Lyme disease will experience this symptom. It’s important to make note of all your symptoms, as fatigue caused by Lyme disease is often misdiagnosed as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, or depression. Some patients dealing with extreme levels on a daily basis, can become overwhelmed by the simplest activities, to the point of becoming disabled.
3. Fever
More than 50% of patients that contract Lyme disease suffer flu-like symptoms during the initial stage of the illness. This includes fever, chills, and a general feeling of discomfort. The fever is generally low grade and usually accompanies other symptoms, including nausea, joint pain, and neck stiffness, which can come and go intermittently. These symptoms are usually in addition to one of the main indicators of the disease. A red rash that sometimes takes the shape of a bulls-eye might appear at the spot where you were bitten by the tick. This will usually clear up on its own.
4. Joint Stiffness
Arthritis caused by Lyme disease is very common among people suffering from the disease. Lyme disease arthritis causes swollen and achy joints, which in turn produces stiffness and pain. This occurs during the late stages of the disease, especially to those that are not receiving treatment. The bacteria that causes Lyme disease gets into the joints and inflames the surrounding tissues. The stiffness in the joints can lead to limited range of motion. Patients complain about joint stiffness after sitting in one spot for any length of time, and in the morning after waking. Things like climbing stairs become more difficult. Stretching and frequent movement can alleviate the stiffness to some degree. Long term effects include chronic arthritis.
5. Headaches
Lyme disease can manifest as a headache before other symptoms appear. There have been cases where this was the first and only issue, before others surfaced. For most cases, this symptom is pretty common at the onset, along with other flu-like symptoms. It’s also been reported that Lyme disease can increase intracranial pressure, thereby causing various types of headaches. This is not common, but more than one patient who suffered with this symptom, as well as nausea and vomiting, were found to have increased intracranial pressure. Patients suffering from persistent headaches where there is evidence of increased intracranial pressure, should therefore be tested for the disease.
6. Muscle Pain
Muscle pain is one of the early symptoms of Lyme disease, along with fever, chills, headaches, joint aches and many others. Many patients report pain in major muscles such as the thighs, when standing or going up and down stairs. Patients also feel muscle pain in their arms, legs, hips, back, and neck. Some have a burning sensation and muscle spasms in their back and lower legs. The muscles are affected in various ways throughout the course of this illness. Some patients report muscle weakness as their most debilitating symptom. Physical exertion can cause muscle pain or weakness one day and have absolutely no effect the next. It depends on the individual, because every person suffering from the disease has a different experience.
7. Joint Swelling
Many patients with Lyme disease have no symptoms during the early stages and surprisingly, some will exhibit signs of arthritis as their first symptom. Sometimes this will manifest very quickly and result in a huge swollen joint, such as the knee, seemingly overnight. The disease causes joint swelling and pain in one or more of the large joints, especially the knee; this can be infrequent or on a regular basis. These symptoms can last for years. Another type of joint swelling that may be caused by Lyme disease is spontaneous knee effusion, also known as “water on the knee.” This type of swelling happens when there’s a buildup of excess fluid in or around the knee joint. The causes for the swelling include arthritis and injury to the cartilage in the knee.
