Lyme Handbook

UK’s Times reports the Lyme dilemma exists in Britain:

 Alex Wade, a surfer from the Cornwall Area, had been experiencing neurological Lyme symptoms in the form of severe spasms, spasticity and headaches.  Even when tested positive for Lyme, his neurologists were all too quick to diagnose him with cervical myelopathy.  As a result they recommended and performed an unnecessary spinal surgery (ACDF),

At the same time, though, Lyme disease was diagnosed, a tick-borne infection common in rural parts of Britain. Lyme generally starts with a distinctive circular rash and goes on to cause flu-like symptoms, fatigue and, on occasion, neurological disorder. Its presence made for a medical conundrum: could the neurological symptoms afflicting me be a consequence of Lyme, rather than cervical myelopathy?

The GP wasn’t sure about Lyme, but things were clearly awry with my neck. An MRI scan was arranged and a blood test to see if I had Lyme. Meantime, I stopped surfing though turned up once for my usual five-a-side football game. It was a disaster. My left leg refused to co-operate in the act of running, instead jerking haphazardly. I knew now that whatever was troubling me wasn’t your run-of-the-mill sports injury. But I wasn’t prepared for what it was.

“You’ve got cervical myelopathy,” said the GP, who contacted me as soon as the MRI results came through. “I’m referring you to a neurosurgeon. For God’s sake take it easy until he’s seen you.”

Having to undergo spinal surgery seemed bad enough and because of it I’ve all but ignored Lyme. I’ve been unwilling to accept that I’m “ill” as well as mechanically unsound. But as ACDF recedes, the extraordinary fatigue, blinding headaches and all-over aches and pains that I’ve been experiencing seem to be caused by Lyme. As with many sufferers, I don’t recall the tick bite, but it must have happened during one of my daily walks with my dogs, Rio and Maya. Lyme is prevalent in areas with a high deer population and around the time I was bitten I’d been visiting my parents often at their home in southeast Devon.

Certainly, there is profound disagreement among the medical profession about Lyme. Everyone agrees that the disease is caused by a tick-borne spiral-shaped bacteria (spirochete) called Borrelia burgdorferi; so, too, is it accepted that the classic Lyme rash — known as Erythema migrans — will not always be present. After that, the arguments begin. Conventional wisdom — and the treatment approved, in the UK, by the Health Protection Agency — indicates that two weeks of an antibiotic such as doxycycline will be enough to see off Lyme.

It is disgusting how quick doctors are to perform dangerous and painful surgeries.  Of course, Britain’s National Health is a non revenue generating service so financial reasons can not be the motive.   Alternatively, physician’s lack of awareness and understanding of the disease must play a bigger role.

I personally, had been very focused on educating the general public of the existence and threat of the disease.  I had believed patients were being misdiagnosed by doctors, insurance companies, and pharmaceutical companies who had too vested a financial interest. This article and the actions taken by these British neurologists have altered my views and raised some doubts.

Regardless, education and awareness still remains the best weapon for combating Lyme disease.

Complete Times article at: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article7016850.ece

~ by Rob on February 9, 2010.

Posted in Lyme
Tags: Lyme, ticks, UK