Can Lyme disease mimic MS?
Lyme disease can cause delayed neurologic symptoms similar to those seen in multiple sclerosis (MS) such as weakness, blurred vision caused by optic neuritis, dysesthesias (sensations of itching, burning, stabbing pain, or “pins and needles”), confusion and cognitive dysfunction, and fatigue.
What are the symptoms of Neuroborreliosis?
Symptoms include headache, cranial nerve palsy, and/or lancinating pain. Although at least 80% of European patients present with facial nerve palsy and radiculitis, symptoms of neuroborreliosis may be quite unspecific or even mimic other neurological diseases [3, 6].
What is the difference between Lyme disease and multiple sclerosis?
Differences. The biggest one is that MS has no cure, while most people with Lyme disease can recover fully within weeks with antibiotics. In some people, some symptoms of Lyme disease can linger for months or longer after antibiotics, a condition called post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome.
Does Lyme disease cause neurological problems?
Neurological complications most often occur in early disseminated Lyme disease, with numbness, pain, weakness, facial palsy/droop (paralysis of the facial muscles), visual disturbances, and meningitis symptoms such as fever, stiff neck, and severe headache.
How often is Lyme disease misdiagnosed as MS?
14% of chronic Lyme patients report being initially misdiagnosed with MS and roughly 2% are misdiagnosed with other neurologic diseases, like ALS, Parkinson’s and Multiple systems atrophy. Now you might think no harm/no foul—so long as they eventually correctly diagnose and treat the Lyme disease.
Does Lyme disease show up on MRI?
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) shows abnormalities in approximately 15-20% of patients in the United States who have neurologic manifestations of Lyme disease.
What were your first MS symptoms?
Common early signs of multiple sclerosis (MS) include:
- vision problems.
- tingling and numbness.
- pains and spasms.
- weakness or fatigue.
- balance problems or dizziness.
- bladder issues.
- sexual dysfunction.
- cognitive problems.
What does MS feel like when starting?
Numbness or Tingling A lack of feeling or a pins-and-needles sensation can be the first sign of the nerve damage from MS. It usually happens in the face, arms, or legs, and on one side of the body. It also tends to go away on its own.
Does Lyme cause brain lesions?
Lyme disease can affect the lining of the brain, a disorder known as meningitis. Other than causing fever and bad headaches, this form of meningitis is remarkably benign; nobody has ever died of it, and it has rarely — if ever — caused significant damage to any patient’s brain.
How do you test for neuroborreliosis?
A clinically suspected diagnosis of Lyme neuroborreliosis can be confirmed by the detection of intrathecal Borrelia-specific antibody synthesis (positive Borrelia-specific antibody index [AI]) in connection with inflammatory changes in cerebrospinal fluid.
What part of the brain does Lyme disease affect?
Lyme disease appears to have two primary patterns of brain involvement on FDG PET scans, specific temporal lobe hypometabolism or a diffuse cortical hypometabolism. The involvement of the temporal lobes in both patterns is likely associated with the memory disturbances described in many of these patients.
What are the first symptoms of multiple sclerosis?
The most common first symptoms of MS are: 1 numbness and tingling in one or more extremities, in the trunk, or on one side of the face 2 weakness, tremor, or clumsiness in the legs or hands 3 partial loss of vision, double vision, eye pain, or areas of visual alteration
What are the symptoms of MS fatigue?
Fatigue is a common and often the most debilitating symptom of MS. It may occur in several different forms: fatigue due to deconditioning (not being in good shape) The fatigue associated with MS is often worse in the late afternoon.
What is the most debilitating symptom of MS?
Fatigue is a common and often the most debilitating symptom of MS. It may occur in several different forms: activity-related fatigue. fatigue due to deconditioning (not being in good shape) depression. lassitude—also known as “MS fatigue”.
What are the symptoms of optic neuritis in multiple sclerosis?
Optic neuritis, neuromyelitis optica, blurred vision, poor contrast or color vision, and pain on eye movement can be frightening — and should be evaluated promptly. People with MS may feel off balance or lightheaded, or — much less often — have the sensation that they or their surroundings are spinning (vertigo).