Inside Lyme Podcast with Dr. Daniel Cameron
You are listening to a show dedicated to discussing actual cases. Dr. Cameron has been treating adolescents and adults with Lyme disease and related tick-borne infections for more than 30 years. The advice given is general and not intended as specific advice as to any particular patient. If you require specific advice, you will need to seek that advice from an experienced professional.
Inside Lyme Podcast with Dr. Daniel Cameron
Unexpected Lyme Disease Presentations
Welcome! Today, we’re discussing the unexpected and unusual presentations of Lyme disease that I've encountered in my practice.
Case Study: Unexplained Foot Pain
One of my patients experienced severe foot pain, even while walking to the bathroom. A podiatrist diagnosed him with plantar fasciitis, and he tried various treatments including icing, NSAIDs, stretching, iontophoresis, shoe inserts, and cortisone injections. Despite these efforts, his foot pain persisted.
In addition to foot pain, he suffered from exhaustion, poor sleep, impaired concentration, neck and back pain, mood disturbances, palpitations, lightheadedness, migratory pains, and sensitivity to light and sound. Remarkably, his foot pain and other symptoms resolved following treatment for Lyme disease.
Expected Lyme Disease Presentations
In my practice, the expected presentations of Lyme disease include:
- Erythema migrans
- Bell’s palsy
- Chronic Neurologic Lyme disease
- Neuropsychiatric Lyme
- Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)
- Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS)
- Lyme carditis
- Lyme arthritis
Unusual Lyme Disease Presentations
However, I've also encountered several unusual presentations of Lyme disease that resolved with treatment. These include:
- Thumb pain
- Intermittent blue color of the hands and feet
- Distorted vision and floaters
- Uveitis
- Atypical seizures
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder
- Tinnitus
- Movement disorders
- ALS-like and MS-like presentations
- Parkinsonian symptoms
- Dementia
- Gastroparesis
- Mold sensitivity
- Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
- Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS)
- Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS)
- Median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS)
- Fibromyalgia
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)
- Functional and somatic disorders
- Anxiety, depression, OCD, and ADHD
The Challenge of Diagnosis
It can be challenging to determine whether Lyme disease is the cause of these unusual presentations, as patients may have multiple conditions. Proper diagnosis and treatment are crucial for resolving these complex symptoms.
Conclusion
Understanding the wide range of Lyme disease presentations helps us better identify and treat this complex illness. If you or someone you know has unexplained symptoms, consider consulting a Lyme-literate doctor. Thank you for watching, and stay tuned for more insights on Lyme disease.