http://www.medpagetoday.com/Rheumatology/Arthritis/36694
I read an interesting article which suggests that there may be an autoimmune factor to Lyme Arthritis. Even after antibiotic treatment some patients don’t experience a relief in their symptoms.
I’m curious to hear your thoughts… I think this is valuable research to explain how we may remain in severe pain despite treatment.
Hi Jen! This is a great article. I agree with this theory. I have read a few other articles with similar views. I agree that when lymies have chronic pain it is an autoimmune effect from some lyme antigens in the body. I think antibiotics can kill the spirochetes so that it cannot further damage your body and provide relief from most symptoms but I think because some bacteria will always be left over in the joints, maybe also the brain people still may have symptoms time to time after antibiotic treatment. I noticed that although rifampin has helped my joints a lot, as well as energy level, i still have abnormal gait( weakness of the legs), twitches, and a few other CNS related symptoms if I don't sleep well or do vigorous activity days in a row. Therefore I think new drugs need to look into preventing the immune system from these lyme antigens. On the other hand, maybe it is a good sign when people have a bit of symptoms here and there after long term abx treatment because it means that your immune system is still working.
Jen,
I read the article. This part was interesting...
"The T-cell response in the joint then can provoke the upregulation of various inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β, a process which some patients seem unable to turn off."
These are the cytokines that I mentioned to you in another post. I have interleuken 6 elevated. In the following information read down toward the bottom where it says "clinical significance".......they try to turn this interleukin 1b off but not successful.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interleukin_1
During my visit with my doctor the other day, while discussing Lyme, he said something about Lyme Literate doctors sometimes will do the antibiotic treatments but do not address and treat the body to regain the immune system function and general homeostasis(balance) of the body's normal functioning. So, what he meant was, they kill off the unwanted organisms, but leave the body weak and battered and unable to go back to normal on its own. Hence, the continuing problems.
Don't know if that's what is happening or that there are some things that can't ever get back to normal. The body is miraculous to even survive the way it does, so I do think that what he said has significance.
Good article to keep in mind for sure for future reference. I know one thing, my joints are not happy campers. :')
Ally
Hi Rose,
What is rifampin ? So you’re able to excercise? That is wonderful to hear. I am so weak that just walking around the shopping mall can cause sore muscles for days. I’m not sure how to go from being horizontal most of the time to being able to excercise.
What did you mean that having symptoms means your immune system is working?
Thanks much,
Jen
Ally,
What do you mean by the doctors leave the body in a weakened state? I just want to make sure I understand.
Thanks,
Jen
Jen,
What I meant was that the immune system is weakened from fighting the infection for long time,and needs to be built up again. The intestinal walls need to heal. Other organs can be weak, adrenals, thyroid etc. Everything in a person's body is being affected when they have a chronic, nonstop infection going on for long periods of time. Different if you get something, goes away real quick, no problem, short term, everything bounces back. Long term infection, not so good. That's what the doctor meant, got to build it back up again.
They used the word in the article "homeostasis" which is the body working in balance all parts. Just needs some help to get back to that.
Ally
Ally, thanks - that makes sense.
Jen