Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection, which is mainly transmitted through certain types of ticks. But, mosquitos, spiders, and other insects may also transmit Borrelia burgdorferi or (rarely) Borrelia mayonii, the bacteria that cause Lyme disease.

Most people get Lyme disease from the bite of a nymphal — a tiny immature tick. Because nymphals are tiny — about the diameter of the head of a pin — the bites are easy to miss. In rare cases, pregnant women can also spread Lyme disease to their developing baby.

Lyme disease is growing more common. More than 475,000 Americans are diagnosed with and treated for Lyme disease annually. But, the true number of people with Lyme disease is likely far higher because it's often misdiagnosed.

Lyme disease can affect any organ in your entire body, which is why it can cause such varied and widespread symptoms. Symptoms can mimic those of rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, Crohn's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, clinical depression, and many other conditions.

About 70-80% of people with Lyme disease develop an Erythema migrans (EM) rash in the area of the tick bite within a month of the bite.

​​​​​​​Some other common symptoms are:

• Chronic fatigue

• Forgetfulness

• Muscle pain

• Tendon soreness

• Mental health changes - mood swings, irritability, depression

• Fever

• Chills

• Severe headaches

• Neck stiffness

• Facial palsy (sagging or drooping in the face)

• Joint pain and swelling

• Unexplained weight changes

• Heart palpitations

• Dizziness

• Breathing difficulties

• Tingling, numbness, or pain in extremities

This is only a partial list of Lyme disease symptoms. You may experience other issues as well, which is why an accurate diagnosis is so important.

Most people with Lyme disease have a number of tick-borne pathogens (co-infections) that also require diagnosis and treatment, particularly in the later stages of the disease. Lyme disease and its co-occurring infections are notoriously hard to diagnose, so the team uses the most advanced tests available.

​​​​​​​The Live Well Wellness Center team uses enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) screening to check for antibodies, as well as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests to look for the genetic material of the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. Antigen tests, which check for a specific protein only present in Lyme disease, are another option.