Lyme Disease and MS

Mar 14

Is there a connection between Lyme Disease and MS?

Lyme disease is a tricky illness, and it’s had the medical community baffled for years because of its ability to manifest as many other diseases. Lyme symptoms can be inconsistent, testing is poor, and it can be mistaken for other neurological and autoimmune diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS). If you want a better understanding of MS vs Lyme, take a look at the vital information below.

What's Lyme Disease?

Lyme disease comes from the bacteria Borrelia Burgdorferi which is carried by ticks. People can contract Lyme disease if they get a bite from an infected tick. Often, the early-stage symptoms of Lyme go unnoticed, and if left untreated, it can progress into chronic Lyme disease.

Lyme disease symptoms can vary a lot between sufferers - they can come and go and even migrate around the body. The varying symptoms mean that often, Lyme can go undiagnosed, or it can even be misdiagnosed as other illnesses.

The initial treatment for Lyme disease is with antibiotics, and you have more of a chance to beat the illness if you treat it in the early stages. However, Lyme disease doesn’t always respond to antibiotics, and symptoms can reoccur.

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’s Multiple Sclerosis?

MS is an autoimmune disease which affects the central nervous system and disrupts the communication between the brain and body. It can damage the myelin sheath - the protective cover of the nerves and cause nerve inflammation. MS usually affects people between 15 and 50 years old, and women are more susceptible to MS than men.

There isn't a single test to detect MS - physicians will usually use MRI to look for brain or spinal cord lesions. They will also use blood tests and a spinal tap to check the nervous system function. The exact cause of MS is unknown, but it may be brought on by things such as genetics, environmental factors such as vitamin D deficiency or smoking, or past illnesses.

The Symptoms of MS

The symptoms of MS usually start mild, and sufferers will usually have at least one of the following symptoms:

Muscle Spasms
Muscle Stiffness and Weakness
Numbness and Tingling
Trouble Walking
Sexual Problems
Uncontrollable Shaking
Bladder and Bowel Problems
Speech Problems
Blurred Vision
Fatigue
Depression
Anxiety

Similarities Between Lyme and MS

Lyme and MS are progressive illnesses that share many symptoms such as aches and pains, weakness, fatigue and brain fog. With both illnesses, the symptoms can come and go, and it can take a long time to get a diagnosis. Lyme can also affect the central nervous system and may even be a trigger for MS, and it’s not uncommon for Lyme to be misdiagnosed as MS.

Conclusion

Lyme disease is hard to diagnose, and it mimics many illnesses, including MS. If you’ve been diagnosed with MS, you should insist on testing to rule out Lyme. It’s vital to get the correct diagnosis because, in some cases, you can treat Lyme with a course of antibiotics. Both illnesses are progressive, so you have a better chance of managing them with an early diagnosis.