What Are the Symptoms of Chronic Lyme Disease?
Lyme disease is acquired through the bite of a black-legged, or deer, tick that is infected with the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. Symptoms include headache, fatigue, fever and skin rash. Left untreated, Lyme disease can develop into a chronic condition with additional symptoms.
Third Stage
Chronic Lyme disease, also known as third stage or late stage Lyme disease, can result from an incorrect diagnosis or insufficient treatment. According to the Lyme Disease Research Database, it may also occur if the bacteria are not all killed, or if conditions are ideal for the bacteria to grow. An example would be if you do not continue your treatment of the disease as instructed by your physician. Symptoms may disappear for periods of time and return after weeks, months or years. There may be times where your symptoms are worse.
Arthritis
Chronic Lyme disease can lead to arthritis, a condition that affects your joints. It typically results in joint pain and stiffness in knees, hips, elbows and shoulders, but may also affect smaller joints such as hands, wrists, fingers and toes. Chronic Lyme disease may also cause stiffness in your neck, or cause pain in your ribs or chest.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome causes pronounced fatigue that is not relieved by rest and sleep. Physical activity or mental exertion may make the condition worse. Other symptoms include muscle and joint pain, headache, sore throat and tender lymph nodes in your armpits or neck.
Neurological Disorders
Neurological problems that may occur with chronic Lyme disease include the perception of numbness and tingling, itching, vibrations and burning or crawling sensations. Other symptoms can include facial nerve palsy (Bell's palsy), headaches, aseptic meningitis (a non-infectious inflammation of the membranes around the spinal cord and brain), encephalitis (an inflammation of the brain) or encephalopathy, which is exhibited by memory loss, anxiety, panic, depression or cognitive problems.
Cardiac Conditions
Chronic Lyme disease can result in heart conditions such as irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) and inflammation in the heart's lining (pericarditis). According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, Lyme disease may cause long-term heart problems such as heart failure.
Other Symptoms
Other symptoms include sweating, vision impairment such as blurriness and light sensitivity, tinnitus (ringing in your ears), hearing loss, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea, urinary urgency and frequency, pelvic pain, hepatitis and tremors. In pregnant women, it can result in an intrauterine infection. It is possible that Lyme can be transferred to the fetus, particularly during the first trimester.
Considerations
Chronic Lyme disease is not progressive and is not fatal. However, the symptoms can be incapacitating. Early and thorough treatment for Lyme is important to avoid the chronic condition.
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