Chronic Lyme disease can be a painful illness to live with, as persistent and painful symptoms can afflict a person for months and there is no real cure. Yet there is an interesting new method of treating chronic Lyme disease that offers hope. Continue reading to understand the disease and late stage Lyme disease treatment options.
Definition and symptoms of Lyme Disease
Lyme Disease is a bacterial infection commonly caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi that can most commonly infect you by way of a tick bite. There are three other bacterias found in connection to Lyme disease. Borrelia mayonii is responsible for Lyme disease in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and North Dakota. Borrelia afzelii and Borrelia garinii affect people in Europe and Asia. All four species of bacteria spread through the black-legged tick.
The disease is often successfully treated with antibiotics, but for unknown reasons, some people continue to suffer from the symptoms of Lyme disease after the infection should have cleared up. This is known as chronic Lyme disease and there is no known cure.
Symptoms of Lyme disease include:
● Pain in muscles and joints
● Swelling in joints
● Neck pain
● restlessness
● Fatigue
● Trouble concentrating
● Speech problems
The symptoms of chronic Lyme disease are often identical to the initial infection, as the illness persists within a person's body even after medical treatment. It is not exactly known why roughly 10% to 20% of people who contract Lyme disease continue to have symptoms after treatments.
Antibiotics
The most common chronic Lyme disease treatment option is the use of antibiotics to treat the infection. Prescriptions include doxycycline for adults and children older than 8, or amoxicillin or cefuroxime for adults, younger children, and pregnant or breastfeeding women. These medications are usually prescribed for 14 to 21 days and are effective at eliminating the disease.
These methods are not particularly effective when dealing with a late-stage Lyme disease treatment. There is evidence found by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases that continued use of antibiotics does not improve your chances of eradicating the disease from your body. Extended use of these drugs can also result in more complications in the body.
When the window for antibiotic treatment has passed, mediating the painful symptoms of chronic Lyme disease is the most common path doctors recommend. Over-the-counter painkillers help reduce joint pain and Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, or NSAIDs can help with the swelling.
Hyperbaric oxygen chamber
An alternative method has been created that is effective in treating Lyme disease. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for Lyme disease has had great success in eradicating the disease and healing those with chronic cases. Although this method has not been approved by the FDA, doctors recommend it as an option for those with the disease when no other methods are working.
The Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber, also known as HBOT, is a pressurized room that concentrates the air with rich oxygen. The bacteria of Lyme disease can not survive in oxygen-rich environments because they are anaerobic. The HBOT allows for the body to become full of oxygen, which can kill the bacteria and heal the afflicted patients.
The Oxford Recovery Center has stated that 66 Lyme Disease participants experienced an average of 85% improvement in their condition using hyperbaric oxygen therapy after every other medical therapy had failed. For those who have been suffering from Lymes disease without recovery, the HBOT offers new hope for many as an effective treatment option.
