Lyme vs Ehler Danlos: Symptom Similarities & Differences

Mar 14

Lyme is a tricky disease because it’s hard to treat and diagnose. The symptoms vary between patients - and it’s often mistaken for other neurological and autoimmune conditions. Sometimes, Lyme is misdiagnosed as Ehler Danlos Syndrome (EDS), and EDS can also be misdiagnosed as Lyme. So, to give you a better idea about how the two illnesses are related, we’ll take a closer look at Lyme vs Ehler Danlos below.

What is Lyme?

Lyme disease comes from the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi - found in ticks. It’s a difficult illness to treat and diagnose because it doesn’t always appear on blood tests. Lyme can also change its form within the body - some forms are resistant to antibiotics, and around 25 percent of patients experience Post Treatment Lyme Disease (PTLD).
It’s easier to treat Lyme in the early stages. If symptoms go unnoticed or unaddressed, it can develop into chronic Lyme.

Early Stage Lyme Symptoms Include:

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

Chronic Lyme 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 Ehler Danlos?

Ehler Danlos (EDS) is a group of rare hereditary conditions that affects the connective tissue, such as the skin, tendons, ligaments, internal organs, bones, and blood vessels. It’s a genetic condition, often inherited by one or both parents, and makes connective tissue weaker.
There are 13 types of EDS, and the most common one is Hypermobile EDS. EDS makes the skin weak, discolored, and prone to scarring. It also makes joints prone to dislocation and can cause early-onset arthritis. Some forms of EDS can make internal organs delicate and prone to rupture.

Doctors diagnose EDS using blood tests, the symptoms, family medical history, and past illnesses. There is no specific treatment for EDS - patients are offered physical therapies such as physiotherapy and emotional support.

EDS is often misdiagnosed as POTS, lupus, chronic fatigue syndrome, and Lyme because they share many symptoms. EDS symptoms vary between patients - some have mild symptoms, while others have more severe and debilitating symptoms.

Most types of EDS share symptoms which include:

Hypermobility
Stretchy skin
Fragile skin cuts and bruises easily

Hypermobile EDS is the most common type, and symptoms include:

Loose joints
Joint pain
Fatigue
Digestive problems
Dizziness
Incontinence
Brain fog
Depression
Anxiety

Other types of EDS can cause more severe issues, such as:

Organ prolapse
Slow healing wounds
Fragile blood vessels - causing regular internal bleeding
Spine curvature
Delicate eyes

How are Lyme and Ehler Danlos Related?

Lyme and EDS share many symptoms, are both difficult to diagnose, and are often misdiagnosed as other autoimmune and neurological conditions. Patients can have both conditions simultaneously, and Lyme can worsen EDS symptoms.

In some Lyme cases, especially when coinfections are present, the disease can potentially affect collagen production and can be misdiagnosed as EDS. Their overlapping symptoms and the fact that Lyme doesn’t always show on tests means EDS can also be misdiagnosed as Lyme.

Conclusion

Lyme can make EDS symptoms worse, so if you’ve been diagnosed with EDS, it’s crucial to insist on testing for Lyme. There's no cure for EDS, but if Lyme is making the symptoms worse, potentially, you can improve your condition if you successfully treat Lyme.