joint pain – F.I.G.H.T for your health!

Postural orthostatic tachycardia & Lyme

Linda — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 04:41:32 +0000

Linda’s comment: Ok so some may respond to antibiotics, where does the tatigue, joint pain and cognitive dysfunction come from….While IDSA says there is no such thing as chronic Lyme or post treatment LD, this very report speaks of them…..

Link: http://eutils.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&id=21305487&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks

Excerpt:

Conclusions: In an appropriate clinical setting,
evaluation for POTS in patients suffering from post LD syndrome may lead to
early recognition and treatment, with subsequent improvement in symptoms of
orthostatic intolerance. (Cardiol J 2011; 18, 1: 63-66).

Heart problems in Lyme disease

Linda — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 05:47:21 +0000

Link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21305487

Excerpt:

Results: Five patients (all women), aged 22-44 years, were identified
for inclusion in this study. These patients developed symptoms of
fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, orthostatic palpitations and either near
syncope or frank syncope. The debilitating nature of these symptoms had
resulted in lost of the employment or inability to attend school. Three
patients were also suffering from migraine, two from anxiety and
depression and one from hypertension. All patients demonstrated a good
response to the employed treatment. Four of the five were able to engage
in their activities of daily living and either resumed employment or
returned to school.

Conclusions: In an appropriate clinical setting, evaluation for POTS in
patients suffering from post LD syndrome may lead to early recognition
and treatment, with subsequent improvement in symptoms of orthostatic
intolerance. (Cardiol J 2011; 18, 1: 63-66).

Tick disease is here

Linda — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 15:56:41 +0000

Full article: http://www.portnews.com.au/news/local/news/general/diagnosis-positive-tick-disease-is-here/1944198.aspx

Excerpt:

17 Sep, 2010 04:00 AM

A LAURIETON doctor says he has “absolute proof” two of his patients have a tick-borne disease that health authorities say does not exist in Australia.

GP Dr Peter Mayne said two of his patients had the bacterial illness Lyme disease.

He urged medical colleagues to keep an eye out for the infection.

“I’ve taken tissue samples at the bite sites, and sent them off for DNA analysis, and they were positive,” Dr Mayne said.

Debate continues about whether Australian ticks can carry Lyme disease.

“There are perceptions that Lyme disease doesn’t exist here in Australia, and the medical profession have been lulled into thinking that they don’t have to worry about Lyme disease,” Dr Mayne said.

In its later stages, the infection can spread through the bloodstream and affect the brain, heart and joints.

Earlier symptoms can include a rash, fever, headaches, tiredness and joint pain.

Lyme disease made headlines this month after an autopsy showed a Sydney man had the disease when he died.

The dead man’s wife planned to launch a class action against NSW Health, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Dr Mayne said he had a list of about 30 patients – from Newcastle to Coffs Harbour – with the disease.

Clinical trials validate the severity of persistent Lyme disease symptoms

Linda — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:08:26 +0000

BACKGROUND: Persistent Lyme Disease Symptoms (PLDS) have included fatigue, headaches, poor concentration and memory, lightheadedness, joint pain, and mood disturbances. Evidence-based guidelines committees disagree over the severity of PLDS. The 2004 International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) concluded that PLDS are severe. The 2006 Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) guidelines committee concluded that PLDS are nothing more than the “aches and pains of daily living” and an ad hoc International Lyme group concluded that PLDS are “symptoms common in persons who have never had Lyme disease.” HYPOTHESIS: Clinical trials validate the severity of persistent Lyme disease symptoms. EVALUATION OF THE HYPOTHESIS: There are 22 standardized instruments used to measure the severity of PLDS among the four published National Institutes of Health (NIH) sponsored double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trials (RCTs). VALIDATING THE HYPOTHESIS: All four NIH sponsored RCTs validate the severity of PLDS. PLDS are as severe as symptoms seen in other serious chronic illnesses, and result in a quality of life lower than for the general population as determined by 22 standardized measures of QOL, including fatigue, pain, role function, psychopathology, and cognition. None of the four RCTs support the IDSA hypothesis that PLDS are nothing more than “the aches and pains of daily living” nor the ad hoc International Lyme group conclusion that PLDS are “symptoms common in persons who have never had Lyme disease.” IMPLICATIONS OF THE HYPOTHESIS: If the QOL of life for these patients is as poor as for patients with other serious chronic diseases, their symptoms need to be addressed by their doctors. Studies differ as to the precise cause of PLDS, the most effective treatments, and whether a cure is possible. But the fact that there is disagreement is not a license for physicians to ignore or turn away patients complaining of PLDS, or to dismiss their symptoms as purely psychosomatic. For physicians, the goal or purpose of treating PLDS should be the same as their purpose in treating other chronic illnesses that result in a poor QOL: vigorous pursuit of a cure, and where a cure proves impossible, amelioration of patients’ symptoms and suffering. Even if this hypothesis fails to be apply to more than a fraction of the total Lyme disease population, this still represents a significant number of patients, and these findings could address a neglected aspect of caring for patients with Lyme disease.

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Clinical trials validate the severity of persistent Lyme disease symptoms.
Med Hypotheses. 2009; 72(2):153-6 (ISSN: 0306-9877)
Cameron DJ
First Medical Associates, Mt. Kisco, New York 10549, USA. Cameron@Lymeproject.com