It’s officially spring. I know some days it hasn’t felt like
it, but it is, I promise! Many of us have been dying to get outdoors and to
enjoy our wonderful state of Connecticut! With that in mind, it seemed
appropriate to talk to you today about Lyme disease, particularly because
recently we have been seeing quite a number of patients with this diagnosis in
our office. I’m sure if you have never had Lyme disease, you’ve probably had
someone you know complain of being diagnosed with the disease. The CDC says that in CT the prevalence of Lyme
disease is one of the highest in the entire country! (These stats are from 2014…)
Here’s a little info on Lyme disease:
Being in CT, you have probably already know that Lyme disease is most often caused by a certain type of tick called Ixodes which carries the spirochete bacteria Borellia burgdorferi . Most times the host of this tick is deer.
In the early stages, there may be a skin rash, fever and flu like symptoms. This may be following an outdoor exposure, especially in high risk areas. Later on, there may be many body systems affected including the heart, eyes, spleen and the nervous system. Antibiotic treatment is appropriate for patients with Lyme disease and patients with a positive diagnosis are always co-managed with their primary care provider or other relevant specialist.
So I know what you are thinking: "Ok Dr. Shepherd, Thanks for the Lyme disease update, but what on earth does that have to do with you and your practice? I mean you are a Chiropractor, you treat neck pain, back pain, joint pain and headaches right?" Well, I’m glad you asked! About 60% of people with Lyme disease report inflammatory arthritis. This usually includes significant joint pain and fatigue, and it is usually at this point in the disease course that people come into our office for help. The manual medicine treatments that chiropractors provide can be very helpful for patients with joint symptoms of Lyme disease. Modalities such as Low Level Laser Therapy have been shown to be very helpful for reducing joint pain, and the right blend of supplements can go a long way in supporting the immune system as the infection is being eradicated.
You see, one of the biggest problems with Lyme disease is that sometimes when patients come in to see us with arthritic type or Fibromyalgia like symptoms, their exposure is in the relatively distant past and they have no recollection of the trademark rash or of being exposed to a tick. This is one of the reasons that chiropractors do a very thorough physical examination on the initial visit, and this is also one of the reasons why in some cases the lab work we order may seem very extensive.
With spring being here and with us spending more time outdoors both for us and our children, here are a couple of tips for preventing Lyme:
§ Inspect your body (including the hair on your head) for ticks after being outdoors.
§ Use tick repellent -- follow directions on the package label.
§ Minimize bite by walking in the middle of the paths and staying clear of tick-infested areas.
§ Wear light colored clothes to help spot ticks.
§ Wear long pants and long sleeved shirts.
§ Tuck pant legs into socks, and tuck shirt into pants when hiking.
§ Remove attached tick by grasping the tick as close to the skin surface as possible and pulling back with a steady force. Use forceps or tweezers and protect bare hand by using gloves, cloth or tissue. Do not squeeze the tick's body. Clean the bite after removing a tick as you would any minor wound.
The good news is that the prognosis for Lyme disease is usually favorable. Early detection is helpful and so if you suspect being exposed to Lyme, please do see your primary care provider as soon as possible. As always if you suffer from joint pain, neck pain, back pain and or headaches, always also consult your chiropractor.
Be healthy out there,
Dr. Shepherd
