Madison Area Lyme Support Group

https://www.treatlyme.net/guide/neuropathy-repair-heal-that-tingling-numbness-pain  Video Here

Neuropathy in Tick-borne Infections and Mold Toxicity

In chronic Lyme disease it is common to have nerve injury in locations outside of the brain and spinal cord – also called peripheral neuropathy. Common symptoms of peripheral neuropathy include:

• numbness,
• burning sensations,
• and/or sharp, stabbing or electric feelings.

In this article Marty Ross MD reviews:

• laboratory evaluation of neuropathy in chronic Lyme disease and
• a functional medicine approach to remove nerve insults and to repair nerve injury.

Neuropathy Laboratory Evaluation

A basic laboratory evaluation of neuropathy may include:

• Vitamin B6 (too much Vitamin B6 causes neuropathy)
• Vitamin B12 (low Vitamin B12 causes neuropathy)
• Vt D3 (levels around 40 ng/ml to 80ng/ml support healthy nerve function)
• CBC
• CMP (evaluation of kidney and liver function)
• TSH, Free T3, and Free T4 (evaluate for low or high thyroid function)
• TTG-IgA & EMA (for possible celiac disease)
• heavy metal urine testing (see the end of the article for when to do this)

Functional Medicine Neuropathy Repair

Steps to repair nerve injury include:

removing the nerve insults

• correcting abnormal labs including thyroid, Vitamin D, Vitamin B6, and Vitamin B12
• stopping RX meds that may cause neuropathy
• treating infections
• correcting mold toxicity

repairing the nerve damage

• repairing nerve cell and mitochondria power plant membranes,
• increasing the master cell repair antioxidant glutathione,
• increasing the nutrient Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
• taking acetyl-l-carnitine if you do not eat red meat,
• decreasing inflammation, and
• using the peptide BPC-157.

Remove Nerve Insults

Treat Infections

The three major infections seen in Lyme disease (Borrelia (Lyme), Bartonella, and Babesia can lead to nerve injury. Of these, Borellia and Bartonella have a greater chance of causing this condition. For information on treating the infections see: A Lyme Disease Antibiotic Guide, Kills Bartonella: A Brief Guide, and Kills Babesia: A Brief Guide.

Stop RX Meds that Cause Neuropathy

There are a number of medications that can cause neuropathy. You should review your list of medications with your physician or health care provider. There are three classes of anti-microbials used in Lyme treatments that can lead to neuropathy.

• azoles including fluconazole (Diflucan), metronidazole, tinidazole, and itraconazole
• Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine)
• disulfiram

Correct Mold Toxicity

Elevated mold toxins may injur nerve function and damage nerve cell mitochondria. See Mold and Lyme Toxin Illness for more information about how to diagnose and fix this problem. (See link for article and video)