Lyme Disease Associated Arthritis

Early and accurate diagnoses is the foremost way to prevent the development of Lyme arthritis in people with the tick-borne illness, this comes from the latest paper published in Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (JAASO). In those patients who do develop the condition, a majority can be treated successfully with antibiotics.

Dr. Aristides Cruz, chief orthopaedic resident at Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, Connecticut, and studies author, states Lyme arthritis usually occurs in patients with Lyme disease and should be taken into consideration when examining patients with joint complaints and who reside in areas where the disease occurs. When diagnosed early on most patients will not develop Lyme arthritis. However, when accurate diagnoses is delayed, arthritis can form and need intervention before permanent joint damage occurs.

Lyme arthritis can be described as painful, swollen joint that causes a stiffness much like osteoarthritis, and usually develops in the late stages of Lyme disease, typically several months after the start of the disease. Almost, sixty percent of patients who are not treated for Lyme disease in the early stages will develop Lyme arthritis.

Lyme arthritis develops when the spirochete (bacteria that causes the disease), attacks the joints and causes inflammation to the tissue that lines the joints. Dr. Cruz, notes that if left untreated, the inflammatory reaction can cause the cartilage in the joints to become damaged.

Dr. Cruz further states a majority of the cases are short and involve one joint, usually the knee. However, the ankle, hip, elbow and wrist can also be affected and some patients could have a fever. Following the onset of the joint pain and swelling, enduring from a week to a few months, symptoms may repeat until the diseases becomes diagnosed. In the severe and late stages, Lyme disease could be hard to recognize from other disease processes.

The diagnoses of Lyme arthritis can be unclear, particularly in patients that do not report a rash and who have a fever, due to the fact it can be confused with bacterial joint infection, especially in children. Overall the diagnoses is varied and involves a complete comprehension of common clinical and epidemiological features of the disease in addition to careful understanding of tests which are used in diagnoses.

Dr. Cruz in closing states that the majority of patients can be treated with antibiotics. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) such as Lodine and Celebrex, can be administered to manage symptoms while the patient is improving. A small amount of patients still continue to have symptoms even after treatment with antibiotics. Surgical treatment may then be needed.

Alternative therapies that can be used in conjunction with conventional treatment of antibiotics have included:

Nutrients

Acidophilus if antibiotics have been prescribed. It maintains the healthy bacteria flora.

Essential fatty acids to decrease inflammation reactions and aides joint stiffness to decrease.

Primrose oil aides in pain and inflammation.

Vitamins C and E to help the immune system

Vitamin A for antioxidant

Acupuncture

Acupuncture aides in forms of arthritis to decrease inflammation and pain. It also aides in improving functioning.

Chiropractic

Chiropractic treatments can aide in repairing damaged neurological connections and restore functioning which was lost to infection. It can also aide in decreasing inflammation and pain.
Sources:

Medical News Today
TMC Health

Arthritis

Concord Medical