Every day, patients with neurologic Lyme disease are misdiagnosed with other neurological disorders, such as CFS and Fibromyalgia, leaving them with improper treatment and no relief. Although an overlap in symptoms, Lyme stands out due to its fluctuation, impact on multiple bodily systems, and the presence of Bell’s palsy. The team at Lyme Mexico is aware of these differences and offers advanced testing and personalized treatment to help restore health.
It is not uncommon for patients to live with neurological symptoms for years without any signs of healing. Consider patients who have been told many times over that they suffer from fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, or even a mental health disorder, and who are receiving treatment that has brought little to no relief.
Why? Because they have neurologic Lyme disease and have been misdiagnosed. And, believe it or not, this situation is much more common than it should be.
Not receiving the right diagnosis can cause a lot of frustration and a serious decline in overall health. It is critical that medical professionals know how to distinguish between neurological Lyme disease and other neurological disorders to reach a positive outcome. This article will explore the differences.
What is Neurologic Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is transmitted through the bite of a tick infected with the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria. On the surface, the symptoms are flu-like, along with joint pain and a rash. If caught early, a round of antibiotics can usually clear up the infection rather quickly.
If you have found yourself here, however, there is a good chance that the infection has invaded your nervous system. This is known as neurologic Lyme disease—and it may appear weeks, months, or years after the initial infection.
Due to its delayed timing and long list of symptoms, it is easy for doctors to mistake it for another neurological condition. Yet, a proper diagnosis is essential for effective treatment.
Common Signs of Neurologic Lyme Disease
So, what are the symptoms of neurologic Lyme disease? How do you know if you have it? There can be a lot of variance among patients when it comes to this disease, but here are a few of the most common:
- Memory loss
- Brain fog
- Inability to concentrate
- Severe headaches
- Neck stiffness
- Neuropathy (numbness, tingling, or burning sensations in the hands and legs)
- Sleep disturbances
- Chronic fatigue
- Anxiety and/or depression
- Facial paralysis
- Balance and coordination difficulty
Keep in mind that each patient is different, and they may or may not experience all of the above. This is where things can become tricky for doctors.
How Neurologic Lyme Resembles Other Disorders
If you have been dealing with neurological issues for some time, you may understand how many of these symptoms overlap with other disorders, making a proper diagnosis difficult. Maybe you have even been misdiagnosed and have undergone treatment that didn’t work. If so, you aren’t alone. At Lyme Mexico, we have seen many patients who have experienced this, resulting in a decline in the hope of healing.
How does this happen? Why does a Lyme diagnosis seem to get overlooked? Too frequently, the focus shifts to other disorders that present with a few of the same symptoms.
Let’s take a look at them.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Patients showing signs of heavy exhaustion and brain fog can find themselves with a CFS diagnosis. Without taking into account all the other symptoms, the level of fatigue is quite similar.
Multiple Sclerosis. Muscle weakness, balance and coordination difficulty, and neuropathy are symptoms of both.
Fibromyalgia. Fatigue, pain throughout the body, and cognitive difficulties outline this condition, similar to neurologic Lyme.
Psychiatric Disorders. Mood disorders, like anxiety and depression, can easily be dismissed as mental health issues instead of a Lyme infection. Treating them alone will not get to the root cause of the problem.
Some signs of neurologic Lyme disease may very well look similar to other disorders, but knowing how it is different can literally save you from months or years of the wrong treatment. This is why a Lyme-literate doctor is an essential part of your care team.
Neurologic Lyme vs. Other Neurological Disorders: Key Differences
Neurological symptoms can be highly disruptive to daily life and cause a significant decline in its overall quality. Knowing how what you’re feeling stacks up against other conditions can be crucial on your healing journey. Check out these key differences.
The Onset
Unlike other neurological disorders that seemingly appear out of nowhere, neurologic Lyme disease will show up after a previous Lyme disease diagnosis, exposure to ticks, an unknown rash, or extensive outdoor activity.
Symptoms
Although the symptoms of many neurological disorders can indeed overlap, how they progress and fluctuate varies. Most will continue to progressively get worse. Neurologic Lyme symptoms, on the other hand, seem to come and go.
Bodily Systems
Another stand-out difference is that Lyme disease can affect the entire body—not just the nervous system. The heart, skin, joints, and more may all be impacted, whereas other neurological disorders tend to wreak havoc on one particular system.
Unique Signs
Have you experienced facial paralysis known as Bell’s palsy? This is a defining difference between Lyme and all other neurological conditions because it is much less likely to appear in patients with fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, etc.
The Approach to Diagnosis and Treatment at Lyme Mexico
It may be common for neurologic Lyme to be mistaken for other neurological conditions, but it doesn’t have to be. Are you stuck in the cycle of misdiagnosis? Your symptoms may not be what they seem. You just need the right team to get to the root cause with advanced testing.
But you can’t just stop there.
At Lyme Mexico, we believe a multifactorial treatment approach is necessary for managing neurologic Lyme. Antimicrobial therapy and supportive treatments help to reduce inflammation and support healing. Our very own Dr. Omar Morales and his team will put together a personalized treatment plan that will work to restore overall health and wellness—not just mask symptoms.
Let us help you restore your hope and reclaim your health. Travel outside the country, such as outside the United States, Canada, the UK, Australia, or New Zealand and find alternate treatments that will give you relief.
Schedule a consultation and become a patient today.