What Doctor Do You See For Lyme Disease

About How You Can Catch Lyme Disease

Heres What To Do If You Find A Tick Bite

The bacteria which cause Lyme disease are commonly caught from the bite of an infected tick.

Lyme-infected ticks are found in grassy and wooded areas anywhere in the UK.

Checking for ticks, and prompt, correct removal reduces the risk of infection, and using tick-focused repellents reduces the risk of being bitten. Most ticks do not carry Lyme disease.

Lyme disease may theoretically be passed from a pregnant mother to the baby.

No evidence was found showing Lyme disease can be spread by blood transfusions or sexual contact.

Treating A Pinched Nerve

Mild cases of a pinched nerve may go away on their own after your body adjusts to naturally remove pressure off of the affected nerve. However, in moderate to severe cases of pinched nerves, you may experience an increase in the severity of symptoms over the course of days of weeks, leading you to seek treatment from a doctor. Orthopedic doctors and surgeons treat pinched nerves in a variety of ways depending on the location and severity of the pinched nerve. Orthopedic doctors and surgeons frequently utilize a combination of a physical exam and diagnostic imaging tools to identify the affected nerves and develop a treatment plan accordingly.

Because a pinched nerve in one area can cause pain and discomfort in multiple areas of the body, it is important to receive treatment from a highly experienced and knowledgeable orthopedic doctor to receive the comprehensive care you deserve. Your particular situation may call for more conservative treatment to reduce inflammation in the area or nerve-related testing before it leads to anything chronic. From herniated discs to rheumatoid arthritis, AICA orthopedic surgeons develop an individualized treatment plan that works for you and your body so you can experience pain relief and healing.

He Bucked The Establishment To Help Kids Recover From Lyme Disease

There has been an outpouring of emotion in the wake of the recent death of Lyme pediatrician Dr. Charles Ray Jones. Many of those who knew himparents, children, advocates, and medical colleagueshave posted touching tributes on social media and online support groups.

But people newer to the world of Lyme disease may not know who Dr. Jones was or the significance of his contributions.

To introduce you to the history of this remarkable man, Im posting an article first published 20 years ago in the Lyme Times. Its written by science journalist Pamela Weintraub, who went on to write Cure Unknown: Inside the Lyme Epidemic, published in 2008. She paints a vivid picture of how Dr. Jones came to occupy his unique position.

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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?

Locked In A Psych Ward

More harrowing is the story told by Kay Lyon, a mother from Wenham, Massachusetts, who describes the decline of her daughter until, in the summer of 1998, she was locked in a pediatric psychiatric unit for three-and-a-half weeks. She had just turned nine.

She was paranoid, delusional, psychotic, suicidal, homicidal, and having visual hallucinations while partially blind, Lyon explains.

She suffered severe confusion, and pain in large and small joints. Because she could not attend public school, she was placed in a behavioral program, where she was physically restrained and put in solitary confinement almost daily for three months. There she cried, fought with her very real ogres, screamed, beat on the mat which was used to contain her, and finally would curl up in a fetal ball on the cold floor in the corner and sob. My husband found her in this room one day and removed her from the school immediately. She then spent three months at home with no schooling available for her at all.

Saddled with numerous diagnoses, including bipolar disorder, attention deficit disorder, schizophrenia, possible schizophrenia, anxiety disorder, and tentative mitochondrial disease, the child was kept in check through psychoactive drugs like Lithium, Risperdal, Tegretol, Topamax, and Klonapin, which caused the gain of massive amounts of weight and kept her brain in a fog.

Lyme Disease Surveillance In Canada

Lyme disease became a national notifiable disease in December 2009.

Canada continues to monitor the evolving geographic distribution and prevalence of infected ticks and cases of Lyme disease. Therefore, you must report clinically diagnosed or laboratory-confirmed cases to your provincial or territorial public health authorities.

Health professionals in Canada play a critical role in identifying and reporting cases of Lyme disease. See the surveillance section for more information on surveillance in Canada.

Consult the national case definition for additional information.

What Does The Future Hold

But how long can a lone septuagenarian keep his finger in the dike? Can he do moreaffect true changeby transmitting his knowledge to the world?

Jones decades of clinical experience have never been committed to writing or taught outside his small circle. And while he has the monopoly on a burgeoning marketLyme disease in the U.S. is at an all-time highhe cannot find a young physician to work by his side full-time and commit to assuming his practice when hes gone. With his colleagues under investigation, their careers in peril, an heir may be hard to find.

One ray of hope comes from the newly established Charles Ray Jones Endowed Student Fellowship at Columbia University, which allows him to train one medical intern in his practice each summer.

In 2001, it was Megan Peimer, a second-year medical student at Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, who worked alongside Dr. Jones. Peimer, who also spent her time absorbing the peer-reviewed literature on Lyme disease and writing up Jones classic cases, says her hope is to foster a more rational attitude about tick-borne disease.

Will Peimer specialize in Lyme disease? Im devoted to international medicine, she says, but when a child with Lyme disease comes to my practice, thanks to Dr. Jones, I will know how to recognize it, and I will know how to treat.

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Is There Any Proof For The Claims That Are Made By Both Sides Of The Controversy

There is a ton of clinical and scientific evidence available regarding Lyme disease. As with anything, you can find someone to support your position no matter what it is these days. Again, research who or what is behind it. If it is a corporation or entity that stands to make money or lose their reputation, you may want to consider the validity of the information. Look for conflicts of interest.

There are people that are suffering severely from this disease. There is evidence that Chronic Lyme exists and persists as an infection. The truth behind the disease is undeniable when you research it. On the other hand, there are also people claiming to have the cure for Lyme disease when there clearly is no cureyet. Use your best judgment when it comes to information you find. If it doesnt make sense, it probably isnt true. For more information please go to the Controversy page and the Resources page.

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Not Everything Is Lyme Disease

Ticks and Lyme Disease: What You Need to Know

Despite critics contention that Jones diagnoses everything as Lyme disease, far-flung interviews with patients reveal the opposite to be true.

One mother, for instance, arrived at Jones office after another doctor ascribed her sons severe gastrointestinal distress to Lyme disease. Jones was skeptical, she says, and insisted we find our own pediatric gastroenterologist without any particular knowledge of Lyme disease.

The doctor the family consulted, an expert at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York City, treated the child with weeks of laxatives, resolving the problem and concurring with Dr. Jonesthe cause of the distress was not, in fact, Lyme disease.

Another parent arrived when her 13-year-old seemed to have a relapse of his Lyme disease symptoms. Local pediatricians tested him and, finding the serology negative, refused to treat the child and sent him on his way.

The mother expected Jones to ignore those test results and prescribe antibiotics nonetheless. That was not the case. Jones sent out for more extensive tests, including DNA analysis by polymerase chain reaction

This time the child did not have Lyme disease but, rather, Bartonella, one of the co-infections.

Based on the latest peer-reviewed literature showing the antibiotic zithromax to be of use, Jones prescribed a short, low-dose course of that medication. In two weeks, the boy was well.

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So When Do You Need Blood Tests For Lyme Disease

In some cases, you can have Lyme disease without the rash. Or you may not see the rash before it goes away on its own.

In these cases, your doctor should ask you about your medical history and do a thorough physical exam. Your doctor should look for these signs that you might have Lyme disease:

You were in an area with ticks and Lyme disease.
You also have fever or redness, warmth, and swelling in one or a few joints at a time usually the knees, shoulders, or wrists.

Other symptoms can occur later on. Talk to your doctor about testing and treatment choices.

This report is for you to use when talking with your healthcare provider. It is not a substitute for medical advice and treatment. Use of this report is at your own risk.

04/2013

Lyme Disease Frequently Asked Questions

If you have not done so already, remove the tick with fine-tipped tweezers.

The chances that you might get Lyme disease from a single tick bite depend on the type of tick, where you acquired it, and how long it was attached to you. Many types of ticks bite people in the U.S., but only blacklegged ticks transmit the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. Furthermore, only blacklegged ticks in the highly endemic areas of the northeastern and north central U.S. are commonly infected. Finally, blacklegged ticks need to be attached for at least 24 hours before they can transmit Lyme disease. This is why its so important to remove them promptly and to check your body daily for ticks if you live in an endemic area.

If you develop illness within a few weeks of a tick bite, see your health care provider right away. Common symptoms of Lyme disease include a rash, fever, body aches, facial paralysis, and arthritis. Ticks can also transmit other diseases, so its important to be alert for any illness that follows a tick bite.

References:

Moody KD, Barthold SW, 1991. Relative infectivity of Borrelia burgdorferi in Lewis rats by various routes of inoculation.external iconAm J Trop Med Hyg 44: 135-9.

There are no reports of Lyme disease being spread to infants through breast milk. If you are diagnosed with Lyme disease and are also breastfeeding, make sure that your doctor knows this so that he or she can prescribe an antibiotic thats safe for use when breastfeeding.

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What Is Lyme Disease

This bacterial infection is spread through the bite of a young deer tick or black-legged tick. These eight-legged creatures, about the size of a poppy seed, can be found in wooded and grassy areas throughout the United States, especially in New England and the Rocky Mountains.

Because these ticks are so small, most people donât realize when theyâre bitten. But the longer a tick stays attached to you, the more likely it is to transmit Borrelia burgdorferi , if the tick is a carrier.

If not found and treated, Lyme disease can lead to problems with your joints, heart, and nervous system. It can even affect your memory.

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Visual Auditory And Sensory Symptoms

If the bacteria that causes Lyme disease moves into the central nervous system, it sensory issues. This can include sensitivity to light as well as other visual disturbances.

In some cases, Lyme disease can cause auditory issues. According to a 2021 study , Lyme disease may contribute to the development of lesions that may cause sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

The researchers noted that people with long-duration infections were more likely to experience permanent and irreversible changes in the cochlea or auditory nerve.

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A Lightening Rod For Controversy

Though Jones treatment for Langerhans cell granulomatosis today forms the standard of care in peer-reviewed journals, it made him a lightning rod for controversy at the time.

Then, as now, the doctor was unfazed by the disdain of colleagues. But as his family grew, there were other concerns. Waking up at 5 AM each morning to see patients at the hospital, he also conducted ongoing studies at Memorial and tended to a busy private practice in offices on both the East and West sides of town. He rarely arrived home before 10 PM.

Margery and I thought there must be another way, Jones states.

So, in 1968, pushing age 40, he packed his bags and his family and headed northto take over a booming pediatric practice in the bucolic Connecticut town of Hamden, where he hoped for a saner, more manageable life.

Little did Jones realize he had purchased not a country paradise, but a residence in the whirlwind, at the epicenter of what would become one of the most bitter medical controversies of the century, the battle over Lyme disease.

Health Conditions We Treat

Our integrated, professional health care team is able to treat and support any medical concern that you may have.

While this is not an all-inclusive list, below are some of the more common health conditions and/or concerns that we treat at our Naturopathic Family Medicine Clinic :

Energy / Recovery IV Therapy Glutathione Detox IV Therapy

To learn more about the Treatments, Testing and/or IV Therapies available, check out our Treatments Page, Testing Page and our IV Therapies Page for more information on each.

Late Manifestations Of Lyme Disease

Arthritis: this is uncommon in the UK but may be present if infection is acquired in the USA. There are usually recurrent attacks in one or more large joints, particularly the knee. It often presents as a large knee effusion, or a Baker’s cyst. There is occasional progression to a chronic arthritic condition.
Acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans: this is a rare skin condition that can occur years after the infection. Extensor surfaces of the limbs develop blue-red discolouration and swelling. There can be associated peripheral neuropathy.
Late neurological disorders: these include polyneuropathy, chronic encephalomyelitis, vertigo and psychosis.
Chronic Lyme disease and ‘post-Lyme syndrome’ , both very controversial areas.

When To Call A Doctor

Could You Have Lyme Disease? with Dr Mark Filidei

A tick is attached to your body and you can’t remove the entire tick.
You have a circular red rash that expands over the course of several days, especially if you know you were recently exposed to ticks. You may also have flu-like symptoms, such as fatigue, headache, stiff neck, fever, chills, or body aches.
You feel very tired or have joint pain , irregular heartbeats, severe headache, or neck pain.
You are pregnant or breastfeeding and you think you may have been exposed to ticks.

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How To Prevent Post

While you may not be able to prevent post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome, you can take precautions to prevent coming into direct contact with infected ticks. The following practices can reduce your likelihood of getting Lyme disease and developing persistent symptoms.

If a tick bites you, contact your doctor. You should be observed for 30 days for signs of Lyme disease. You should also learn the signs of early Lyme disease and seek prompt treatment if you think youre infected. Early antibiotic intervention may reduce your risk of developing chronic symptoms.

The signs of early Lyme disease can occur from 3 to 30 days after a bite from an infected tick. Look for:

a red, expanding bulls-eye rash at the site of the tick bite

What Are The Stages Of Lyme Infection

There are three stages:

Early localized Lyme: Flu-like symptoms like fever, chills, headache, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, and a rash that looks like a bull’s-eye or is round and red and at least 2 inches long
Early disseminated Lyme: Flu-like symptoms like pain, weakness, or numbness in your arms and legs, changes in your vision, heart palpitations and chest pain, a rash , and a type of facial paralysis known as Bellâs palsy
Late disseminated Lyme: This can happen weeks, months, or years after the tick bite. Symptoms might include arthritis, severe fatigue and headaches, dizziness, trouble sleeping, and confusion.

About 10% of people treated for Lyme infection donât shake the disease. They may go on to have three core symptoms: joint or muscle pain, fatigue, and short-term memory loss or confusion. This is called post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome. It can be hard to diagnose because it has the same symptoms as other diseases. Plus, there isn’t a blood test to confirm it.

Experts arenât sure why Lyme symptoms donât always go away. One theory is that your body keeps fighting the infection even after the bacteria are gone, like an autoimmune disorder.

Some Of The Treatments Tests And Iv Therapies Offered At The Nature Doctors:

Treatments:

Looking for a specific type of treatment, test or therapy? Call us at 204-943-6079 to enquire.

I think the most common misconception is that we are not science based, which couldnt be further from the truth. We are trained to read bloodwork, do full physicals, understand the pharmacokinetics of herb/nutrient/drug interactions and employ treatments that are backed by research and are safe.

Dr. Jason Bachewich ND, The Nature Doctors – MB Blue Cross Article “Taking control of your health understanding naturopathy”