Archive for the ‘Lyme’ Category

Back Pain Mystery Solved – It Was Lyme Disease

https://danielcameronmd.com/back-pain-lyme-disease/

Back Pain Mystery Solved… It Was Lyme Disease

Posted By: Dr. Daniel Cameron
4/8/25

Back pain is one of the most common complaints in medicine. For most people, it’s caused by something mechanical—disc degeneration, a pinched nerve, or muscle strain. But sometimes, the cause isn’t physical at all. I had a patient whose back pain defied every explanation—until we found an answer where no one had thought to look: Lyme disease.

Surgery and Rehab: A Promising Start

My patient had a long history of lower back pain. After struggling with it for years, he underwent back surgery and engaged in a dedicated course of physical therapy. For the first time in years, he was pain-free. He felt like he had his life back. He returned to daily activities, enjoyed time with his family, and was finally free from the constant burden of discomfort.

The Pain Returns—Worse Than Before

Months later, his pain came back.

But this time, it was different. It was severe, deep, and unrelenting. He hadn’t lifted anything heavy. There was no trauma. His physical therapy routine had remained consistent. Yet the pain—centered in his lower back—grew worse by the week.

He returned to his neurosurgeon. Imaging showed no new issues—no disc herniation, no surgical complications, nothing to explain the pain.

A 9-Month Search for Answers

He was referred to pain management. Tried anti-inflammatories. Tried physical therapy again. Tried trigger point injections. Nothing helped. The pain was taking a toll—physically, emotionally, and socially. He couldn’t sleep well. He avoided movement for fear of worsening his pain.

For nine months, every path led to a dead end.

No Tick Bite. No Rash. But Something Was Off

What made this case even more puzzling was the absence of any red flags we usually look for with infections. There was no tick bite, no erythema migrans rash, and no fevers. Lyme disease wasn’t even on the radar.

But other symptoms began to appear—fatigue, low mood, brain fog, and a growing sensitivity to heat and cold. It no longer seemed like just a spine problem.

A Broader Workup—and a Surprising Diagnosis

Because his symptoms were no longer isolated to his back, we broadened the differential diagnosis. We tested for autoimmune conditions, neurologic disorders, and chronic infections.

That’s when a Lyme disease test came back positive—specifically, multiple IgG Western blot bands consistent with a late-stage infection.

The pieces started to fall into place.

How Lyme Disease Can Cause Back Pain

Lyme disease is caused by the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria. While many associate Lyme with joint pain or flu-like symptoms, it can also cause inflammation of nerve roots—a condition known as radiculitis—which can feel exactly like sciatica or disc-related back pain.

In some patients, Lyme disease affects the central nervous system and causes neuropathic pain that does not respond to typical treatments like surgery or anti-inflammatories. And in late-stage Lyme, patients often do not recall any early signs of infection. Studies estimate that 30% or more of patients with Lyme disease never see the tick or develop a rash.

Treatment—and Recovery

Once diagnosed, my patient began antibiotic treatment tailored to neurological Lyme disease. Within a few weeks, his pain began to improve. Slowly but surely, the deep, burning back pain that had plagued him for nearly a year began to fade. So did the fatigue, brain fog, and other symptoms.

Within a few months, he was functioning well again—and back to enjoying his life.

What This Case Teaches Us

This case highlights something crucial: Lyme disease doesn’t always follow the rules.

  • You don’t need to have joint swelling or fever.
  • You don’t need a textbook presentation for it to be real.
  • When conventional explanations fall short, it’s time to think more broadly.

Five key takeaways:

  1. Chronic back pain may have non-mechanical causes.
    Not all back pain stems from disc problems or muscle strain. Sometimes the root cause is something unexpected—like a persistent infection such as Lyme disease.
  2. A normal MRI doesn’t rule out a serious problem.
    Imaging can appear normal even when significant symptoms are present. Lyme-related nerve inflammation may not be visible on routine scans.
  3. Failed back surgery syndrome may not always be surgical failure.
    When pain returns after a successful procedure, it may not be the spine at fault. An undiagnosed infection or inflammatory process could be the real culprit.
  4. Pain that doesn’t respond to standard treatment deserves further    investigation.
    If physical therapy, injections, and medications fail, it’s time to look beyond conventional explanations and consider underlying systemic causes.
  5. Lyme disease can cause neuropathic and radicular pain.
    Lyme disease can inflame nerve roots, creating symptoms that mimic sciatica or spinal disorders—without any visible structural damage.

When to Suspect Lyme Disease in Back Pain

Consider Lyme disease in patients with unexplained back pain when:

  • Imaging doesn’t match the severity of the symptoms
  • Pain worsens despite appropriate treatment
  • There are neurologic symptoms (numbness, tingling, burning pain)
  • Fatigue, brain fog, or mood changes are also present
  • The patient lives in or has visited a tick-endemic area (Northeast, Midwest, or Pacific Northwest)

Final Thoughts: Look Deeper When Pain Persists

Lyme disease can mimic many conditions. This patient’s story reminds us that when the usual explanations fall short, we must keep asking questions and consider less obvious diagnoses.

Back pain is common. But if it’s unresponsive to treatment and comes with a set of symptoms that don’t quite add up, look deeper.

Because sometimes, it’s not the spine—it’s the infection you didn’t know was there.

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Category:

Lyme, Pain Management

Live Lyme Awareness Events

Dr. Rawls Live Lyme Awareness Event

Lyme Awareness Month is well underway, and the stories and conversations happening in the #WeSeeYou space are already inspiring real connection and momentum.
We’re especially excited for our featured event this Friday at 1 PM ET, where we’ll be joined by Nicole Bell, author of What Lurks in the Woods.
Nicole will share her powerful journey through illness, caregiving, and advocacy—shining a light on what it means to search for answers in the face of the unknown.
Now the CEO of Galaxy Diagnostics, Nicole brings a unique blend of personal and professional insight into the challenges of chronic illness and the urgent need for better diagnostics and deeper understanding.

New Podcast Conversations with Dr. Rawls

This month, Dr. Rawls has been sharing his insights on chronic illness and recovery through a series of podcast interviews.

Catch him on:

  • Culture Apothecary – A heartfelt discussion on healing, trauma, and resilience in chronic illness. Listen or watch here »
  • Ancient Health Podcast with Dr. Chris Motley – A dynamic conversation covering chronic infections, herbal therapies, and how cellular health is key to recovery. Listen here »

Save the Date and RSVP:

Join us next week for a live conversation with Olivia Abrams, co-founder and CEO of TiCK MiTT to hear her powerful story of being impacted by Lyme disease as a child and how it led her to create a tool with her father that’s changing prevention for others! Hosted by Ali Moresco.

Event Date: Wednesday, May 14th, 2 pm ET

RSVP here »

We hope to see you at an upcoming event soon!
– The RawlsMD Team
P.S. Get a pair of our limited edition Lyme Awareness Sunglasses at Vital Plan! Buy a pair for your self or a loved one or get a pair for free with any order over $50 at Vital Plan.

Category:

Activism, Lyme, Uncategorized

May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month: 5 Things You Can Do to Raise Awareness

https://projectlyme.org/may-is-lyme-disease-awareness-month-here-are-5-things-you-can-do-to-raise-awareness/

5 Things You Can Do to Raise Awareness of Lyme Disease

May 1, 2025

By Project Lyme

For many people, May means warming temperatures and the anticipation of the coming summer (and a break from school). However, May also marks a significant time for those of us whose lives have been affected by Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections: Lyme Disease Awareness Month.

Lyme patients often face challenges in obtaining a proper diagnosis due to a lack of awareness, outdated viewpoints, and a lack of sensitive tests. Delays in diagnosis often lead to disseminated, difficult-to-treat, or chronic infection. Chronic or late-stage Lyme disease patients report delays of 6 months to 5 years or more, with some studies citing an average of 1 to 2 years. Factors include misdiagnosis (e.g., as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, or psychiatric conditions), nonspecific symptoms, and limitations in testing accuracy (e.g., false negatives in serologic tests). A 2018 survey by LymeDisease.org found that 60% of patients took over 2 years to receive a correct diagnosis.

Lyme Disease Awareness Month is a great opportunity for advocates, patients, and friends and family to raise awareness about how just one tick bite can change your life forever. Your advocacy can save a life or vastly improve a friend or loved one’s quality of life. Interested in getting involved? Take a look at our list of five easy ways to raise awareness for some ideas.

1. Educate Others.

Out of the ashes of adversity, we rise not just for ourselves, but to guide others towards the light. Help us to educate others by connecting with us on social media (Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and TikTok) and sharing posts. We will be publishing informative posts and videos throughout the month covering everything from what to do if you get a tick bite to best practices in tick-borne disease testing and treatment, as well as patient stories. Sharing posts with your network is a simple way to spread awareness that can have a big impact.

Do you have a medical care provider who is interested in learning more about Lyme disease and related infections? The 26th Annual ILADS Scientific Conference will be held October 9-12, 2025, in San Antonio, TX. Project Lyme is proud to support ILADS by providing grants to first-time attendees.

2. Set Up a Lyme Fundraiser.

Whether it’s for Lyme Disease Awareness Month, in honor of your birthday, or another special event, if you have a Facebook profile, fundraising for a cause just takes a few simple steps. Click on the “Fundraisers” button located in the left-hand menu of your main Facebook page to get started. Then click the “select nonprofit” button and follow the prompts to create your fundraiser. And remember, when you raise money for Project Lyme, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, you are making our mission to spread awareness, fund research, advocate, and support our community possible.

You can also support our important work by making a donation directly on our website.

3. Urge Congress to Protect and Grow Federal Funding for Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Programs.

A recently leaked FY2026 budget from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) shows that the federal government may cut programs that help the United States prevent, detect, and respond to Lyme and tick-borne diseases. Although budget passbacks are a routine part of the Executive Branch’s annual budgeting process and usually remain confidential, these proposed cuts put millions of Americans at risk—including vulnerable children, families, seniors, and people with disabilities. Lyme and tick-borne diseases still lack reliable diagnostics, affordable therapies, and a cure. Now is the time to speak up.

Our advocacy partner, the Center for Lyme Action, has developed a quick, easy, customizable form to urge Congress to adopt their recommended funding levels for Lyme and tick-borne disease research in the FY2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. Share this campaign with your network to help maximize impact

4. Shop and Support.

Looking for a comfortable t-shirt, tank, hoodie, or a new coffee mug? Check out Project Lyme’s online shop and get your Lyme disease awareness gear today.

5. Share Your Story.

Opening up about your experiences not only raises awareness about Lyme and other tick-borne diseases; it also serves as critical testimony that Lyme can persist and cause devastating symptoms. Want your story featured across our social media? Reach out to us through our website today!

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Category:

Activism, Lyme

The Good, Bad, and Ugly of Lyme Disease

https://danielcameronmd.com/bad-ugly-lyme-disease/

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Lyme Disease

Posted By: Dr. Daniel Cameron
April 29,2025

A Tale of Three Outcomes

“I thought I was better… until I wasn’t.”

That’s what one of my patients told me after completing a standard course of antibiotics for Lyme disease. At first, she felt relief—less pain, more energy. But weeks later, the fatigue crept back in. Then the brain fog. Then the joint pain that kept her up at night. What began as a simple tick bite turned into a complex journey through symptoms, misdiagnoses, and delayed treatment.

When it comes to Lyme disease, patients deserve to know the whole story—not just the optimistic version. As a doctor who has treated Lyme disease for decades, I’ve come to describe it in three stages: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Understanding these stages can change the course of your care—and your life.

The Good: Early Detection and Recovery

Let’s start with the good news.

If Lyme disease is diagnosed early—usually within days to a few weeks of a tick bite—and treated appropriately with antibiotics, most patients recover fully. Many return to work, school, parenting, and sports without ever looking back. They remember the tick bite, the rash, or flu-like symptoms, but the story ends there. Life goes back to normal.

This is what we hope for every patient.

But unfortunately, not every Lyme disease story ends this way.

The Bad: Lingering Symptoms and Frustration

Now, let’s talk about the bad.

Some patients complete their antibiotics and still feel unwell. They may face months or even years of persistent symptoms:

• Fatigue that makes it hard to get through the day

• Brain fog that affects memory and focus

• Aching joints or nerve pain that comes and goes

This is often labeled Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS)—a term that can be both validating and limiting. Many patients feel dismissed when told there’s no further treatment option, only time and patience. Yet they’re still sick—and they want answers.

Sometimes, this “bad” outcome is not just the aftermath of Lyme—it’s a sign of a persistent infection, an undiagnosed co-infection like Babesia or Bartonella, or even a misdiagnosis.

The Ugly: Chronic, Misunderstood, and Life-Altering

And then there’s the ugly truth.

For some, Lyme disease doesn’t go away. It becomes chronic—a condition that disrupts every aspect of life. These patients often endure:

• Severe, unrelenting fatigue

• Chronic pain or neurological symptoms

• Anxiety, depression, and even cognitive decline

• Loss of income, relationships, and identity

They see specialist after specialist, undergo test after test, and are often told, “There’s nothing more we can do.” Some are misdiagnosed with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, or even psychological conditions.

This stage is often preventable, especially if we don’t delay treatment or dismiss symptoms when they don’t follow the textbook path.

Why Knowing the Full Story Matters

Whether your Lyme disease experience falls into the good, the bad, or the ugly category, knowing the potential outcomes helps you make informed decisions.

Patients who understand:

• That Lyme disease can persist

• That co-infections exist

• That early treatment matters

• That healing may require time and patience

… are more likely to seek the right care, ask the right questions, and avoid falling through the cracks of the medical system.

Final Thoughts from a Lyme Disease Expert

If you’ve been diagnosed with Lyme disease—or suspect you have it—don’t settle for a one-size-fits-all answer. Listen to your body. Trust your instincts. And don’t be afraid to advocate for care that goes beyond the standard playbook.

Because Lyme disease isn’t just a rash and a few weeks of antibiotics.  Sometimes, it’s a long road—and patients deserve guidance every step of the way.

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Category:

Activism, Lyme, Treatment

Overlap of Parasites & Lyme Disease – How to Treat

https://mylymedoc.com/parasites-and-lyme-disease/

The Overlap of Parasites and Lyme Disease

parasites and lyme disease

Written by Dr. Diane Mueller

http://  Approx. 4 Min

Unveiling Hidden Parasites: The Connection to Lyme and Mold Illness

My Lyme Doc

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread by ticks. It causes flu-like symptoms and a characteristic bullseye rash. Studies estimate that anywhere from 40-80% of Lyme disease patients are also infected with parasites. This is far higher than the general population. So there’s a connection to between parasites and Lyme disease.

While the bacteria that causes Lyme – Borrelia burgdorferi – is well known, research shows there may be another factor that exacerbates Lyme symptoms: parasites.

Possible Reasons Why there’s an Overlap Between Lyme Disease and Parasites

  • Tick connection – Ticks can transmit parasitic organisms like Babesia in addition to the Lyme bacteria. Getting bitten by an infected tick raises risk for both.
  • Suppressed immunity – The Lyme bacteria impairs immune function. This makes the body more susceptible to parasites and other infections.
  • Chronic symptoms – Lyme and parasites both cause similar long-lasting symptoms like fatigue, joint pain, and neurological issues. Having both could worsen symptoms.
  • Undetected parasites – Parasites often go undiagnosed. Doctors look for the Lyme bacteria but may miss parasites existing simultaneously in the body.

Common Parasitic Co-Infections with Lyme Disease

A number of parasitic organisms have been found in Lyme patients. The most common include:

  • Babesia – Babesia are malaria-like parasites transmitted by ticks. They infect and destroy red blood cells.
  • Bartonella – Bartonella causes cat scratch fever. It may get into the blood from tick or flea bites.
  • Toxoplasma – Toxoplasma is a parasite found in undercooked meat and cat feces. It forms cysts that hide out in the body.
  • Giardia – Giardia parasites causes “traveler’s diarrhea.” It spreads through contaminated food and water.
  • Cryptosporidium – Another diarrheal illness, often spread through contaminated swimming pools and water.
  • Whipworm, tapeworm, flukeworm – Intestinal parasites that can impair gut health and nutrient absorption.  (See link for article)

Self Guided Heal from Lyme and Mold Program: https://mylymedoc.com/beyourowndoctor/

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https://www.treatlyme.net/guide/intestinal-parasites-lyme-disease

When & How to Treat Parasites in Lyme Disease

By Dr. Marty Ross

When & How to Kill Intestinal Parasites in Lyme disease Image from Marty Ross MD

Updated: 3/28/23

Article excerpt on treatment:

If you can identify which parasite you have, use the prescription medicine that is shown to work best for that specific parasite.

If you are unable to figure out which parasite you have, then treat using one of the prescription options below or with the natural medicine option. Note that based on my experience, I find the prescription options to work well about 85-90 percent of the time. The natural medicine options seem to work about 60 percent of the time.

Prescriptions

In my experience, Alinia works best but is quite expensive. Alinia is a universal anti-parasite medication that should work against most parasites. For more information, see Alinia: When & Why in Lyme Disease Treatment.

  • Alinia 500 mg 1 pill 2 times a day for 3 weeks, or
  • Biltricide 600 mg 1 pill 3 times a day for 3 days, then 21 days after the first pill take 1 pill 3 times a day for 3 more days.

Natural Medicines

Black walnut is a natural medicine used in parasite regimens based on its traditional use for this purpose. However, limited to non-existent science shows it works. Also, artemisinin and oregano oil may help. Use one of the two options below for at least two months.

Option One

Take all three of these herbal medicines at the same time.

  • Black Walnut 250 mg to 500 mg 3 times daily.
  • Artemisinin 100 mg 2 pills 3 times a day.
  • Oregano Oil 500 mg 3 times a day.

Option Two

Use Biocidin liquid drops or capsules. Biocidin is an herbal mix that has a number of herbs in it that may treat parasites. Two of these are black walnut and oregano. In addition, some of the other agents appear helpful. For more information, see Biocidin: A Potent Antimicrobial & Biofilm Breaker.

  • Biocidin Liquid. Start at 2 drops on the tongue 3 times a day and increase every other day by 1 drop per dose until you reach 10 drops 3 times a day. If you develop a Herxheimer die-off reaction, do not increase until it passes. Take without food, meaning at least 30 minutes before food and more than 2 hours after food.
  • Biocidin Capsules. Start at 1 capsule 2 times a day and after 2 days increase to 1 capsule 3 times a day. Every 2 days, add 1 capsule until you reach 2 capsules 3 times a day. If you develop a Herxheimer die-off reaction, do not increase until it passes. Take without food, meaning at least 30 minutes before food and more than 2 hours after food.
Disclaimer

The ideas and recommendations on this website and in this article are for informational purposes only. For more information about this, see the sitewide Terms & Conditions.

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Category:

Lyme, Parasites, Treatment