Lyme Disease and Fibromyalgia

Fibro

Jun 22

Is there a connection between Lyme Disease and Fibromyalgia?

Each year in the USA, 467,000 people are diagnosed with Lyme disease. However, the cases are probably much higher because Lyme is hard to diagnose. The symptoms of advanced Lyme disease are very similar to several neurological and autoimmune diseases such as fibromyalgia. So, in this guide, we’ll look at the similarities and the differences between Lyme Disease and Fibromyalgia.

Lyme Disease and Fibromyalgia

Lyme disease mimics many autoimmune and neurological conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, MS and fibromyalgia. There is no known cause of fibromyalgia, and often, it can be misdiagnosed because it shares so many symptoms with advanced Lyme disease including:

● Chronic Fatigue

● Chronic Pain

● Migraines and Headaches

● Disrupted Sleep

● Brain Fog

● Stress and Anxiety.

● Numbness and Tingling

● Weakness

Furthermore, Lyme disease and fibromyalgia are similar because the symptoms can come and go, and sometimes they might disappear for years at a time. Both illnesses can be very distressing to sufferers because of the difficulties with diagnosis.

The Differences Between Lyme Disease and Fibromyalgia

Lyme disease comes from a bacteria called Borrelia Burgdorferi, which ticks carry. If an infected tick bites you, you have a chance of catching Lyme disease. Fibromyalgia, on the other hand, is caused by an anomaly in the nervous system, and the exact cause isn’t clear. Studies suggest fibromyalgia may be due to a genetic disposition, or it may also be caused by environmental factors, such as stress or trauma.

With Lyme disease, infected people will sometimes develop a distinctive ring-shaped rash around the bite. However, the rash may not appear in many cases. In the early stages, recovery is more likely but as the disease goes untreated, becomes harder to reach remission.

As well as a round rash, here are the other symptoms of early-stage Lyme disease:

● Chills

● Fever

● Neck Stiffness

● Swollen Lymph Nodes

Why Is It Hard to Tell Lyme Disease and Fibromyalgia Apart?

The early symptoms of Lyme disease can sometimes go unnoticed, undiagnosed, or worse, dismissed by doctors, they will probably develop into advanced Lyme disease. The symptoms of advanced Lyme disease mimic many other illnesses, and Lyme disease has poor testing. In fact, tests for Lyme disease can miss 60% of acute cases.

Potentially, many people could have Lyme that’s been mistaken for something else, such as an ambiguous illness like fibromyalgia. Some studies suggest that Lyme disease and fibromyalgia may even be linked.

Conclusion

If you have any early-stage symptoms of Lyme disease, always get them checked. It’s easier to diagnose and treat Lyme disease in the early stages. Once advanced, Lyme disease can be easily misdiagnosed as something else, especially fibromyalgia. If you have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, it’s worth undergoing some rigorous tests to rule out Lyme disease. It’s essential to get the correct diagnosis, so you can start a suitable treatment for the best chances of recovery or managing your illness in the case of fibromyalgia.