Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Lyme Disease Doctor New York

Must read

Lyme Arthritis In Children Can Present Throughout The Year

Doctors Sound the Alarm on Lyme Disease and other Tick-Borne Illnesses

The studys objective was to evaluate the seasonality of pediatric Lyme disease in three endemic regions in the United States, writes Sundheim. Participants had been treated at 8 different medical centers throughout the Northeast and UpperMidwest. Of the 690 children with Lyme disease, 77 had a single EM lesion, 247 had early disseminated disease, and 366 had arthritis, wrote the authors. Children with early and early-disseminated Lyme disease

Look How Far Ive Come

My initial Lyme test was, in the words of my doctor, lit up like a Christmas tree. Pretty much everything on it was positive: 2 different strains of Lyme, babesia, bartonella, and mycoplasma. I was a mess.

This summer I had a repeat test. Everything came back negative. While this doesnt mean Im definitively negative for Lyme, it certainly indicates weve been able to reduce the load enough that its not showing up on the tests. Ill likely need to continue some level of treatment for quite some time.

There are many Lyme specialist who dont believe its ever possible to be completely cured of Lyme. Its a sneaky bacteria and good at hiding. Many believe, the best you can get is to effectively put yourself in remission and strengthen your immune system. This keeps the Lyme bacterial load low enough that the symptoms are kept at bay.

Another fantastic result of treatment has been a huge decrease in inflammation. My c4a levels were 20,749 when I was first diagnosed. Thats a lot. . At the beginning of this year, after about a year of treatment, they were down at 17,594. This September, I was delighted to see my levels down to 4,090. Im inching closer to being back in the normal levels.

Dont Miss: Do Antibiotics Get Rid Of Lyme Disease

Chelation Therapy For Lyme Disease

Some people believe Lyme disease symptoms are linked to heavy metal toxicity from materials like lead or mercury. Chelation therapy is a method of removing heavy metals from the bloodstream.

Its done using a type of medication called a chelator or chelating agent. This medication binds to metals in the bloodstream, collecting them into a compound that can be processed by your kidneys and released in urine.

Chelation therapy is an effective treatment for a buildup of heavy metals. But theres no evidence that heavy metals contribute to Lyme disease, and chelation therapy wont treat the underlying infection.

Read Also: How Would You Know If You Have Lyme Disease

What Is Chronic Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi which is most often acquired from the bite of an infected Ixodes, or black-legged, tick, also known as a deer tick. Borrelia is a gram negative bacterium. Lyme disease in Europe is more often caused by Borrelia afzelii or Borrelia garinii. areas of New York, where Lyme disease is common, over half of the ticks are infected. Lyme disease has been reported most often in the Northeastern United States, but has been reported in all 50 states as well as China, Europe, Japan, Australia and the parts of the former Soviet UnionIt is transmitted to humans by the bite of infected blacklegged ticks.

4.Muscle pains

1.Oral antibiotics Doxycycline – bacteriostatic properties stops synthesis of bacteria replication.

2.Amoxicillin – bactericidal properties kill bacterium, Beta-lactam properties inhibit the synthesis of bacterial cell walls.

3.Ceftriaxone – bactericidal properties kill bacterium. Has central nervous system penetration.

4.Anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen, are sometimes prescribed to relieve joint stiffness.

Upstate Lyme Disease Doctor: Early Treatment Crucial But Diagnosis Can Be Tricky

New York Lyme Disease Treatment and Autoimmune Doctor

The deer tick can spread Lyme disease in its nymph or adult stage.

Syracuse, N.Y. — Lyme disease is treatable when caught early, and most patients recover fully, said Dr. Kristopher Paolino, an infectious disease expert at Upstate Medical University.

“The thing with Lyme disease is, the earlier you catch it, the earlier you treat it, the better the outcomes,” Paolino said today. “There is concern that Lyme disease is a forever illness, and for the majority of people that’s not the case.”

Paolino spoke with discussion, answering questions about the spread of the disease, its symptoms and treatment, and the difficulty in diagnosing it.

Dr. Kristopher M. Paolino

If Lyme is caught in its early stages, a 10- to 21-day course of antibiotics are usually enough to kill the bacteria that causes Lyme. Left untreated, the bacteria can wreak havoc on the body, causing anything from painful joints to dangerous heart conditions. Even among those who are treated, 10 to 20 percent can suffer long-term problems, he said.

“There are people who have chronic symptoms, and those people are suffering,” Paolino said. “We need to do better to find ways to treat those patients.”

Lyme disease is caused by a bacteria spread by the bite of a black-legged, or deer, tick. About half of adult deer ticks in New York carry the bacteria.

Paolino said you should consult your doctor if you have any of these symptoms:

Don’t Miss: Can I Get Lyme Disease Twice

How Is Lyme Disease Diagnosed

Your doctor will diagnose you based on your symptoms and whether youâve been exposed to a tick. They might also run a blood test. In the first few weeks of infection, the test may be negative because antibodies take a few weeks to show up.

Hopefully soon, there will be tests that can diagnose Lyme disease in the first few weeks after youâre exposed. The earlier you get treated, the less likely itâll get worse.

Dont Miss: Can Lyme Disease Cause Spinal Stenosis

Questions To Ask Your Doctor

  • I found a tick embedded in my skin, but I cant get it out. What should I do?
  • Ive been bitten by a tick. Do I need to be seen?
  • Do I need a blood test to confirm Lyme disease?
  • Which antibiotic is best for me?
  • How long will I have to take the antibiotic?
  • What tick or insect repellent should I use for me or my child?
  • How long will the symptoms last?
  • What should I do if I still dont feel well a long time after I was bitten?

Don’t Miss: What Is The Medication For Lyme Disease

Patients Turning To Herbal Remedies

Because patients are currently turning to herbal remedies to fill the treatment gaps left by antibiotics, this research is a critical step in helping clinicians, as well as patients, understand which ones may offer the most potential benefit.

According to this study, carried out by Prof. Ying Zhangs group at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the seven herbal medicines that have the ability to kill B. burgdorferi in test tubes are:

  • Cryptolepis sanguinolenta
  • Cistus incanus
  • Scutellaria baicalensis

It is important to note that each of these products have the potential to produce significant side effects in patients, and should be taken only under advisement of a clinician knowledgeable of their capabilities and toxicities.

Of these products, the Cryptolepis sanguinolenta extract caused complete eradication, while doxycycline and cefuroxime and other active herbs did not. This extract has been used for the treatment of malaria as well as the tick-borne infection Babesia, a malaria-like parasite.

This study is believed to be the first time this extract has been documented to have a potential impact on B. burgdorferi, and additional laboratory and clincial studies should be conducted to investigate the potential role Cryptolepis sanguinolenta could play in the treatment of Lyme disease.

New York City: Lyme Disease Center At Columbia University

Lyme and Reason: Dr. Neil Spector

A new center that will provide specialized care for patients with Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases will begin seeing patients this summer at Columbia Universitys Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons.

The Cohen Center for Health and Recovery from Tick-Borne Diseases, supported by a $16 million gift from the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation, will be the first in New York City to offer dedicated treatment for people with Lyme and related diseases.

The foundations gift will also fund a national clinical trials network that will focus on identifying more effective treatments for patients with Lyme and tick-borne diseases.

There is a growing need for evidence-based treatments for patients with Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, said Anil Rustgi, MD, interim executive vice president and Dean of the Faculties of Health Sciences and Medicine at Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and Columbia University Irving Medical Center. This generous gift from the Cohen Foundation will allow us to build on our facultys expertise in Lyme and tick-borne disease patient care and research, providing access to comprehensive, coordinated treatment.

We know firsthand the devastation that Lyme and tickborne diseases can cause, and we are thrilled to support this innovative center and clinical trials network to help bring treatments and hope to patients and their families, said Alex Cohen, President, Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation.

Read Also: What Medication Is Used For Lyme Disease

Treatment Of Lyme Disease With Homeopathy

You are looking for an affordable and safe Lyme natural cure and you found this article. Luckily, this article could save you from dealing with extreme fatigue, constant headaches, aching muscles, fever, stiff muscles, rashes and poor sleeping habits.

Do any of these symptoms of Lyme’s Disease sound familiar. The truth is that about 25,000 people will contract Lyme Disease this year alone. And since this disease can stay with you, there is a reported 2 million people in America who suffer from this debilitating disease.

But how do you get rid of the symptoms of Lyme disease? If you are concerned your medication is not working, here are some tips to boost your body’s health and cure Lyme naturally.

The aches of your body and joints should also be taken seriously by supplementing vitamin A. Recent studies have shown that is this vitamin can be beneficial to arthritic patients and also Lyme disease patients.

Are you getting your omega 3 fatty acids? Most nutritionists agree that fish oil is probably the second best supplement you need every day . Supplementing fish oil is good for your heart but it has also been shown to be good for your aching joints and muscles.

How To Improve Heart Health

Anytime you have something irregular with the heart, you should have someone check it out, advises Dr. Rawls. The threshold for being evaluated for heart symptoms should be pretty low. In other words, if your heart feels off youre experiencing chest pain, shortness of breath, an irregular heartbeat, or something else get to a doctor as soon as possible.

While testing can help pinpoint whats going on, it may not always be spot on the first time youre evaluated, and you might need to be persistent in pursuing a diagnosis. From one patient to another, Stewart says, When it comes to something serious like your heart, dont stop searching for answers. Trust your instincts, and dont ignore it.

Once you know what youre dealing with, you and your doctor can establish a plan of care, which may include antibiotics, particularly in the acute stages of Lyme disease. Other drug therapies include beta blockers and antiarrhythmic drugs, which might be necessary to stabilize your heart rate and prevent abnormal rhythms. However, those drugs can come with a long list of side effects, and the length of time you could be required to take them will differ from physician to physician and the severity of your illness.

1. To improve the hearts electrical rhythms and the strength of its contractions, and to enhance blood flow:

  • Krill oil or fish oil, potent anti-inflammatories

Dont Miss: How Do You Diagnose Lyme Disease

Read Also: Can Dogs Live With Lyme Disease

What Is Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection typically caused by ticks, which are small arachnids that feed on the blood of birds, mammals, and sometimes reptiles or amphibians. Unlike insects, arachnids have two body segments, eight legs, and no wings. They also cant chew.

Several factors can increase your risk of Lyme disease, including:

  • Spending time in grassy or wooded areas
  • Having bare skin in areas with ticks
  • Removing ticks improperly or after theyre attached for 36-48 hours

There are several types of tick-borne illnesses, but Lyme disease is the most common and comes from infected deer ticks or black-legged ticks.

Identify Doctors Trained In The Diagnosis And Treatment Of Tick

Prominent Neurologist Calls Lyme Disease

You can access a variety of online resources and directories to locate doctors who are specifically trained in identifying and treating tick-borne illnesses. These do not have to be infectious disease specialists they can be physicians from any practice area who simply have extensive experience with tick-borne diseases.

It is particularly important to find a Lyme expert if you suspect that you may have Lyme disease, since it is the most frequently misdiagnosed of all tick-borne diseases. Finding a Lyme-literate medical doctor a physician who is familiar with the vast range of symptoms that may indicate infection at various stages of the disease, as well as potential coinfections and other complexitiescan help ensure that you get the right treatment, right away.

To find a doctor who is also a Lyme expert, you may want to explore the following resources:

Note: Some of these organizations may require you to submit a form or create a login to access their databases.

Don’t Miss: Herbs That Kill Lyme Disease

Tackling Lyme Disease: How Researchers Plan To Disarm Ticks

The treatment options for chronic Lyme disease, a tick-borne illness, are still limited. But now, researchers are pursuing a new approach: Eliminating the cause directly at the source.

Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria can trigger chronic diseases but a remedy may be in sight

Lyme disease may eventually be a thing of the past, says Kim Lewis, professor of biology and director of the Antimicrobial Discovery Center at Northeastern University in the US city of Boston.

The reason for this optimism is the rediscovery of a chemical that is deadly to the bacterium causing the tick-borne illness but harmless to animals. But more on that in a moment.

Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi, which lurks in small rodents such as rats or mice, as well as in deer. They do not show symptoms of the disease. Ticks serve as vectors, meaning they become infected when they feed on blood from these animals and transfer the bacteria to new hosts such as humans.

Treatment For Neurologic Lyme Disease

Facial palsy is treated with oral antibiotics and Lyme meningitis/radiculoneuritis can either be treated with oral or intravenous antibiotics, depending on severity . Most patients respond well to antibiotics and fully recover.

Varying degrees of permanent nervous system damage may develop in people who do not receive treatment in the early stages and develop late-stage Lyme disease.

The following regimens may need to be adjusted depending on a patients age, medical history, underlying health conditions, pregnancy status, or allergies. Consult an infectious disease specialist regarding individual patient treatment decisions.

Don’t Miss: How To Treat Post Lyme Disease Syndrome

How To Remove A Tick

A tick must remain attached to the skin for at least 36 hours to spread Lyme disease. The best way of preventing Lyme disease is to remove a tick as soon as possible.

The blacklegged tick that spreads disease-causing bacteria resembles a tiny spider. Young ticks are around the size of a poppy seed, while adult ticks are around the size of a sesame seed. Ticks of all ages are reddish-brown.

Below are some steps for tick removal.

  • Step 1: Use fine-tipped tweezers to gently grasp the tick near its head or mouth. Avoid squeezing the tick.
  • Step 2: Using the tweezers, pull the tick carefully and steadily away from the skin. Avoid yanking or twisting the tick, as this could cause its mouthparts to remain in the skin.
  • Step 3: After removing the tick, dispose of it by putting it in some alcohol or flushing it down the toilet.
  • Step 4: Apply antiseptic to the tick bite.

Our Son Got His Life Back

Lyme Disease Awareness Campaign Targets Staten Island

Our sons illness was so frustrating for all of us. His unpredictable symptoms had been bothersome for a few years, but we werent able to find a doctor who could clearly diagnose his illness and effectively treat his symptoms. Everything changed for the better when we met the medical detectives at Bock Integrative Medicine. Dr. Bock patiently listened as we explained the history of our sons illness, asking us questions about our sons background and environmental factors. Dr. Bocks knowledge of complex medical conditions and research-based science enabled him to diagnose our sons condition and develop a treatment plan that gave our son his life back. If you or a family member are experiencing a chronic illness, you need the caring team of experts at Bock Integrative Medicine!~ Josh and Lois Helder, Manhattan, NY

Don’t Miss: All About Lyme Disease In Humans

What Is Integrative Medicine

Integrative medicine is an evidence-based approach to diagnosis and healing that considers all of a patients lifestyle factors and employs traditional as well as more comprehensive treatment methods. As practitioners with expertise in adult and pediatric integrative medicine, the board-certified providers at Bock Integrative look for sources of imbalance that are causing physical reactions, like inflammation or oxidative stress, and seek to address these problems using the most appropriate individualized immune, hormonal, nutritional, metabolic, psychosocial and antimicrobial therapies. Dr. Bock and his staff are experts in the diagnosis and treatment of multi-symptom, multisystem disorders, including Lyme disease and co-infections, autoimmune disease, PANS and PANDAS , Autism and co-occurring conditions, and:

  • Treatments

How 11 Top Nyc Doctors Missed My Lyme Disease

This is one of a series of guest blogs by people who have enrolled in MyLymeData.

A July 2014 wedding on Long Beach Island, New Jersey was the start of my nightmare.

It was a beautiful weekend filled with love for two of our dearest friends who were, after 14 years together, finally legally able to marry. There was lobster and champagne and a crazy Gordon Gekko-style house on the beach. I sang a few songs, made a toast, and cried happy tears.

I woke up two days later, back home in NYC, with a crushing head and neck ache. It was weird, but I figured I would sleep it off and be better in the morning. It took a few days, but I recovered.

That Saturday, I got out of the shower and saw a faint red circular rash on my shoulder with a bug bite in the middle. My knees buckled. I called for my husband, Andy, HUNNEEEE! I have LYME!

He really didnt think so.

I banged on my neighbors door, still in my towel, Rachel! Look! Lyme!

She told me no way.

But I knew, and I walked to the ER.

The fresh-faced doc took a quick glance at my shoulder and said it looked like Lyme, and to thank God I wasnt one of those crazy Lyme people that never gets better because they caught it too late.

I filled the CDC recommended 21 days of 200 mg of Doxycycline and fully believed Id be okay.

I followed up with an infectious disease specialist from NYU a few days later, to be safe. He reassured me that I would have no complications since I caught the bite within a week.

I was relieved.

So was I.

Read Also: Lyme Disease In Brain Treatment

More articles

Popular Articles