Do you wake up with stiff joints? Are aching joints bothering you throughout the day? Has joint pain kept you from living an active lifestyle? If you’ve been dealing with persistent joint stiffness and pain, Lyme disease can potentially be the cause. In the later stages of this condition, you can develop what is cause Lyme arthritis.
How Lyme Disease Causes Stiff Joints
Stiff joints from Lyme arthritis occurs when bacteria from the disease makes it way into your joints, leading to inflammation and pain. In the early stages of the condition, you may notice less severe muscle and joint aches that feel like you’ve gotten a bad case of the flu. However, the pain and stiffness worsen with time and without treatment.
The Signs of Lyme Disease
If your joint pain has progressed to the point you struggle to get up in the morning or do the activities you once loved, it’s possible you’ve had Lyme disease for a while without knowing it. It’s very uncommon for this condition to go undiagnosed or untreated if a person is not aware they were bit and their doctor is unfamiliar with common symptoms.
Early-Stage Lyme Disease
The earliest signs of Lyme disease include a red rash that looks like a bullseye. However, 20 to 30% of people don’t get this rash, or you may not have noticed it if you did. You’ll also experience flu symptoms, such as a fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, and swollen lymph nodes.
Late-Stage Lyme Disease
In the later phases of Lyme Disease, the condition becomes more severe. The pain and sickness you felt in the first stage worsens, and you may notice rashes that develop across your whole body. Other possible symptoms include facial palsy, joint swelling, radiating pain and numbness, heart palpitations, dizziness, and nerve pain.
Find Relief for Joint Stiffness
Getting treatment for your Lyme disease can help you finally get your joint pain and stiffness under control. To receive a proper diagnosis and treatment plan, you’ll want to work with a doctor that has a deep understanding of Lyme disease and its effect on the body. Reach out to Dr. Robin Ridinger at Premier Health and Holistic Medicine and look at the full blog below for more information.
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