Radiculopathy is a painful condition that results from inflamed nerve roots that can be caused by Lyme disease. Common symptoms are numbness, shooting pain, and weakness, though misdiagnosis is common and often leads to delayed treatment. With the help of a Lyme-literate medical team, the right diagnosis can lead to the right, personalized treatment that will address both the infection and the nerve inflammation.
Due to its complexity, living with Lyme disease long term can have its challenges. It is always concerning as new symptoms continue to appear, especially when they include shooting nerve pain and muscle weakness. While this can often be dismissed as a pinched nerve or a condition known as sciatica, it may be radiculopathy—a less common symptom of Lyme disease.
Without a proper diagnosis or the right treatment, patients will be left with unrelenting pain and discomfort. However, a better quality of life is possible.
Here’s what you need to know about the neurological connection between radiculopathy and Lyme disease.
Understanding Radiculopathy
Radiculopathy is a condition that occurs when a nerve root is compressed or inflamed in the spine. When this happens, pain, numbness, weakness, and tingling can radiate along the nerve, impacting areas throughout the body. Many associate this pain with spinal issues, such as a herniated disk, spinal stenosis, or even bone spurs. But it can also be caused by inflammation and infection due to Lyme disease. In this instance, it is often referred to as Lyme radiculopathy.
Symptoms of Radiculopathy
The neck and lower back are the primary areas that are affected by radiculopathy, but it can appear anywhere along the spine! This means that the symptoms will be different for each patient due to the various nerves that may be involved. A few of the most common include:
- Muscle weakness
- Loss of reflexes
- Sharp, burning, or shooting pain
- Tingling or numbness
- Challenges with fine motor tasks
Lyme Disease and the Nervous System: What’s the Connection?
Lyme disease is an infection caused by the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria that is transmitted through the bite of an infected tick. Flu-like symptoms are normal with this infection, as well as a bullseye rash. For many, a round of antibiotics will cure the illness and leave the patient feeling much better. For others, not so much.
Lyme disease can eventually turn into an illness that affects many different systems in the body, including the nervous system. When this happens, it is referred to as neuroborreliosis, and it doesn’t always appear right away. Patients may not experience an impact on this bodily system for weeks, months, or even years after the infection. When it does, the nerves and nerve roots become inflamed, resulting in radiculopathy.
A Closer Look at Lyme Radiculopathy
Patients with radiculopathy caused by Lyme disease often present with complaints of burning or stabbing pains on one side of the body. They may have difficulty getting relief from the pain, regardless of their position.
When seeking medical care, it is not uncommon for patients to be misdiagnosed with orthopedic or neurological conditions rather than getting to the root cause of the Lyme infection. The result? Little to no relief.
So, how can you know if you are dealing with radiculopathy resulting from Lyme disease? First, working with a Lyme-literate medical team can be a game-changer when it comes to getting to the root cause.
Additionally, knowing the following symptoms that are characteristic of the condition:
- History of exposure to ticks or a Lyme infection
- Pain that isn’t reflected in imaging
- No improvement with traditional treatment methods
- Facial palsy
- Cognitive changes
- Cranial nerve involvement
Diagnosing Radiculopathy with Lyme Disease
One of the biggest downfalls that patients face is the fact that diagnosing radiculopathy is quite challenging. Nonetheless, diagnostic tools that are used include:
Medical history. Seeking answers about medical history, including any previous Lyme symptoms, tick exposure, or diagnosis.
Lumbar puncture. Testing the spinal fluid can show any elevation of white blood cells as well as the presence of antibodies against the Borrelia bacteria. This is a good indicator of a Lyme infection.
A neurological exam and advanced testing work well to uncover the cause and help lead to a proper diagnosis. The key is for the medical team to know where to look in the first place.
Treatment for Radiculopathy and Lyme Disease
Without a proper diagnosis, the radiculopathy will continue to be disruptive to the patient. When it is determined that it is caused by Lyme bacteria, both must be treated—the underlying infection and the nerve inflammation. The severity of the condition will determine the proper treatment.
Antibiotics. A couple of antibiotics can work well to clear up the Lyme infection for some individuals. Those who have had the infection for an extended time may find this used in addition to other therapies.
Anti-inflammatory and pain medication. Various corticosteroids, NSAIDS, and pain medications are often prescribed to provide symptom management. This will not reduce the infection, but only provide temporary relief.
Physical therapy. Muscular weaknesses due to radiculopathy can be addressed using PT once the infection is under control.
While all of these may work well for some patients, those who deal with radiculopathy often find themselves in need of more integrative and supportive therapies, such as detoxification, nutritional support, immune system support, etc. These usually provide the best relief.
Choose Lyme Mexico Clinic
If you are someone who has been diagnosed with radiculopathy or thinks you may have this condition due to a Lyme disease infection, there is a good chance you have been trying to find healing.
Stop your search—you will find it at Lyme Mexico.
Here you’ll benefit from a team that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of complex Lyme disease cases, including co-infections and neurological issues like radiculopathy. The most advanced diagnostics, integrative therapies, and expert Lyme-literate medical professionals create the best approach to treatment, designed just for you.
Leave your frustrations behind and become a patient of Lyme Mexico today. Schedule your consultation and become a patient today!
Conclusion
Radiculopathy is a painful condition in which the nerve root becomes compressed or inflamed. And, because it is often overlooked as a complication of Lyme disease, finding healing can begin to feel hopeless. Thankfully, when the right diagnosis comes from a Lyme-literate provider, treatment can follow that will offer relief from the chronic discomfort.