Re: Lyme & Herniated Discs?

[Guest guest]

Kim,

Sorry you are in so much pain. I had 3 discs herniate before finding out I

had Lyme. They couldn't figure out why my back was such a mess. I had

numerous MRIs and they kept showing more damage over the 5 years it took me

to find a LLMD and start treatment. My back is so much better now. I am so

glad I kept looking and didn't just stick to pain management and physical

therapy or surgery.

It is frustrating but finding a good LLMD is what made the difference for

me.

Good luck!

Lysandra

On Mon, Nov 3, 2008 at 1:42 AM, kim <meme21998@...> wrote:

> Hi,

> I have a long history of Lyme and more recently Sjogren's Syndrome. Is

> there anyone on this group who has had mysterious herniated discs occur?

>

> My most recent one is in my neck.....I am in a lot of pain. It was

> confirmed by MRI. I have been in pain for about 3 weeks after a period of

> feeling ok. My Rhuem. said that he is seeing a lot of people with lyme

> develop spinal problems. It is just so frustrating.

>

> Thanks,

> Kim

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I have a very similar story. I had my first herniated disk at age 21,

followed by a fusion 6 months later. Over the past 9 years, things

have continued to degenerated, etc. My 4/5 was fused, and then the

pressure may have caused 5/6 to fuse. Right now My C2-7 is bulged,

herniated, and one fused. That whole part of my spine is a mess with

bone spurs, dehydrated disks, degeneration and a backwards curvature.

I have been in constant chiropractic care for years now, which has

helped me tremendously.

My last MRI was about a year ago, and in comparison, from 06-07 there

was a lot more degeneration- at age 28-29!

I just found out definitely a few months ago that I have Lyme. My

LLMD did tell me that the Lyme was likely the culprit since I never

had an accident or injury to cause the initial herniation. He did not

explain why (and now he is passed away so I cannot ask him.)

So, can anyone explain the theory as to why our spines are breaking

down?

I have had horrible cervical spasms over the last decade, constant

nasty spasmed muscles (unbelievable), and my neck has become so weak

that doing anything with my upper body puts me at risk for my

neck " going out " on me, making me unable to move for many days.

I just started prolotherapy a few months ago and I have noticed a big

increase in strength. I tolerate things like long car rides much

better. I am hoping that the prolo will help stabilize the damage I

have.

My neck being so off has actually caused my head to become " crooked " .

I just looked at Xrays a couple days ago. My head is literally not on

straight, my jaw is not straight, and my head is actually rotated

(first cervical bone rotated). I have had chronic daily headache and

migraine, and trigeminal neuraliga/facial pain for 14 months now. My

doctor (chiro of Upper Cervical Care) says that my neck has caused my

head to be very misaligned (and complicated I guess), and that my

head being off is the cause of scoliosis in my lower back.

So, I'm hoping when I " get my head on straight " that it will aleviate

many of the other problems I have. Perhaps I have Lyme to blame for

all of it!

Also- Lysandra,

After you were treated for Lyme, did the degeneration then stop? And,

since your back is doing so much better, is the damage that is there

any better, or just not bothering you as much?

Kim-

I was diagnosed with Sjogren's when I was about 18-19yrs old. My

severe FMS then set in at age 22, 6 months after the surgery on my

spine. I'm 30 now and have had such severe FMS (and CFS, which to me

is part of FMS) that I have been on disability for 4 1/2 years

already. A couple years ago I moved and my Rheum did a lip biopsy

that came back negative. Turned out that my blood work had not shown

positive for SS in the beginning, but my symptoms were consistent for

the beginning stages of Sjogrens. So, after the biopsy, I started

going with just " SICCA " syndrome. There are many others with FMS that

have these diagnoses as well. Of course, now I know I have Lyme.

This year, after 8 years of testing, my ANA actually came back

positive. I still didn't test positive for specific markers for

Sjogren's or Lupus, though. So, I don't know if it really is

Sjogren's, or if the ANA is from the Lyme.

Either way, I live with the symptoms.

>

> Kim,

>

> Sorry you are in so much pain. I had 3 discs herniate before

finding out I

> had Lyme. They couldn't figure out why my back was such a mess. I

had

> numerous MRIs and they kept showing more damage over the 5 years it

took me

> to find a LLMD and start treatment. My back is so much better now.

I am so

> glad I kept looking and didn't just stick to pain management and

physical

> therapy or surgery.

>

> It is frustrating but finding a good LLMD is what made the

difference for

> me.

>

> Good luck!

>