Are your joints hurting and your knees feeling swollen and sore all the time? You could be dealing with “Lyme arthritis,” which is a late-stage complication of Lyme disease.
Below, our rheumatology specialists in Munster, Indiana are going to explain Lyme arthritis in more detail as well as share the best treatment options to help people get back on their feet.
What is Lyme arthritis, and how does it develop?
Lyme arthritis is caused by a tick-borne bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi. This bacteria can lay dormant for years.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 476,000 Americans are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease every year. And before antibiotic therapy existed, around 60% of untreated patients developed Lyme arthritis. This really shows how important it is to identify Lyme disease early and manage its symptoms.
If your knees (or other joints) are feeling sore and swollen and the pain just does not go away, you should speak with a rheumatology specialist in Munster, Indiana as soon as possible.
Signs and tests to confirm if you have Lyme arthritis.
Diagnosis for Lyme arthritis can be a lot of work, but that is exactly where licensed rheumatology specialists in Munster, Indiana can help you.
The first step in diagnosis is to go over your symptoms and medical history and run some blood tests.
A CDC-recommended two-tiered Borrelia testing approach, for example, includes an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and a Western blot test to check if your body has the right antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi.
If you have already taken antibiotics for Lyme disease and your joints are still hurting, you could have “antibiotic-refractory Lyme arthritis.” This just means that your inflammation is stubborn, not that the bacteria are still inside the joints.
These are your best options for managing and treating Lyme arthritis.
Most people with Lyme arthritis respond well to treatment. As a matter of fact, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine Lyme Disease Research Center, nearly 90% of people with Lyme arthritis show signs of improvement after taking antibiotics.
Oral doxycycline or amoxicillin is commonly used to wipe out the tick-borne bacteria. But if these antibiotics don’t work, IV antibiotics like ceftriaxone may be necessary for some relief.
What if your joints are still swollen after you have taken antibiotics?
Well, just because there is still some swelling does not mean the infection is still there. It could simply mean that your immune system is overactive. When that happens, the focus of the treatment changes to minimizing that inflammation. You might find relief with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) like methotrexate, or even a procedure called arthroscopic synovectomy.
You really can’t skip treatment. If Lyme arthritis goes untreated, it could lead to permanent joint damage.
Early care for Lyme arthritis is crucial.
Not every doctor knows how to handle Lyme arthritis, especially when it does not respond to antibiotics. This is why you need to find someone who really understands complex joint problems. This is where we come in. Our licensed rheumatology specialists in Munster, Indiana have the experience and training to diagnose and treat Lyme arthritis.
Have you been told that your swollen joint is just a sports injury or that it is probably nothing? Lyme arthritis can sometimes mimic other conditions like reactive arthritis or juvenile idiopathic arthritis. And if you don’t get the right tests, it is extremely easy to misdiagnose or miss entirely.
Living with Lyme arthritis is a challenging life, but proper diagnosis and treatment can make you feel more comfortable and help you regain control of your life.
Looking for an Affordable Rheumatology Specialist in Munster, Indiana?
Are you looking for a qualified rheumatology specialist in Munster, Indiana who can help you leave your joint pain behind and get back to living a healthy and active life? If so, our rheumatologists at 219 Health Network are just a call away. Contact us today at 833-219-0001 to schedule a visit with a specialist.