Lyme Arthritis

Arthritis

Jun 22

One of the most concerning things about Lyme Disease is that it mimics many autoimmune and neurological illnesses. Chronic Lyme disease is also hard to diagnose due to poor testing. As a result, potentially thousands of people are misdiagnosed each year. One condition that shares many symptoms with Lyme is Rheumatoid Arthritis; Lyme Arthritis. So below, we’ll take a look at everything you need to know about Lyme Disease vs Rheumatoid Arthritis.

What is Lyme Disease?

Lyme Disease comes from the bacteria Borrelia Burgdorferi, found on ticks, and can enter the human body through tick bites. There are two stages of Lyme Disease, early and chronic. Chronic Lyme, if left untreated, can cause Lyme Arthritis which can permanently damage joints. The problem with Lyme is that symptoms may go unnoticed in the early stages, and it’s extremely difficult to get a correct diagnosis. Testing is poor, and sometimes doctors can even be dismissive of symptoms.

Symptoms of Early Stage Lyme

Early-stage symptoms occur within 3 to 42 days after a bite from an infected tick and include:

A Distinctive Round Rash - However, this only occurs in around 50 percent of cases.
Flu-Like Symptoms
Fever
Chills
Headache
Stiff Neck
Muscle Aches
Fatigue
Swollen Lymph Nodes

Symptoms of Chronic Lyme

If left untreated, Lyme will develop into chronic Lyme Disease, and symptoms include:

Chronic Pain
Chronic Fatigue
Migraines
Brain Fog
Facial Paralysis
Jaw Pain
Tingling and Numbness in Extremities
Irregular Sleep Patterns and Night Sweats
Hot Flushes
Swollen Glands
Stiff Neck
Depression
Anxiety

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid Arthritis affects the soft tissue around the joints, and it’s more common in women and usually occurs after middle age, but it can come on at any time. Rheumatoid Arthritis can cause deformities in the hands and feet and can affect other types of bodily tissue too. The exact cause of Rheumatoid Arthritis is unknown, but it may occur due to genetic or environmental factors or even past illnesses.

Rheumatoid is usually diagnosed with a blood test. X rays, physical examination, and lab tests. There is no cure for Rheumatoid Arthritis. Treatment options include surgery, anti-inflammatories for pain, physiotherapy, diet changes and self-management. .

Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis

With Rheumatoid Arthritis, symptoms will usually develop gradually and include:

Joint stiffness on both sides - especially in the morning or after periods of inactivity
Joint stiffness and pain - especially in the smaller joints such as fingers and toes
Sore, swollen, tender or warm joints
Limited mobility
Chronic fatigue
Chronic weakness
Appetite loss
Weight loss

How Are Lyme and Rheumatoid Arthritis Similar?

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lyme Disease share many symptoms and are chronic, progressive illnesses that affect the joints and nervous system. It’s possible to have both diseases at the same time. In fact, Lyme Disease may be a contributing factor to developing Rheumatoid Arthritis.

How are Lyme and Rheumatoid Arthritis Different?

Most of the time Rheumatoid Arthritis affects the hands and feet, but Lyme Arthritis usually occurs in larger joints such as the shoulders or knees. Also, Rheumatoid Arthritis is often symmetrical, so it affects the same parts of the body equally on both sides. Whereas Lyme Arthritis is usually asymmetrical and can affect one or several joints. Rheumatoid Arthritis pain is generally more severe and consistent than Lyme Arthritis because the symptoms of Lyme Arthritis can often come and go.

Conclusion

Due to poor testing, many people with Lyme Disease may have been incorrectly diagnosed with something else. If left undiagnosed and untreated, Lyme disease will progressively worsen, so it’s important to rule it out. If you’ve been diagnosed with an autoimmune or neurological condition such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, always insist on rigorous testing for Lyme Disease as a precaution.