Lyme Disease Support Group
Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the Northern Hemisphere. It is now one of the fastest growing infectious diseases in the U.S. Lyme disease is caused by infection with the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria, and is primarily transmitted to humans as well as dogs, horses and other domesticated animals by the bite of infected ticks.
Newly dx'd. Some of the main sx are muscle aches in my upper back, traveling down my arms and hands..numbness and tingling and a sensation of the muscles stiffening. I was dx'd w/fibro in 1993 and I thought this was a flare up but I tested positive on the Western Blot for Lyme. In fibro physical activity is recommended and I feel that it does help. What is the recommendation for Lyme?
Below is a link to Dr. Joseph Burrascono's guide on diagnosing and treating lyme disease, and a long quote from page 31. He recommends exercise, especially non-aerobic. I know some people with lyme try walk regularly (although that's aerobic), some practice yoga, while others can not get out of bed or off the couch. That's the tricky part- many don't feel up to any kind of exercise, and yet, it has many benefits...
Here's what Dr. B said:
http://www.ilads.org/lyme_disease/B_guidelines_12_17_08.pdf
Despite antibiotic treatments, patients will NOT return to normal unless they exercise, so therefore an
aggressive rehab program is absolutely necessary. It is a fact that a properly executed exercise program can
actually go beyond the antibiotics in helping to clear the symptoms and to maintain a remission.
Although the scientific basis for the benefits of exercises is not known, there are several reasonable theories. It
is known that Bb will die if exposed to all but the tiniest oxygen concentrations. If an aggressive exercise
program can increase tissue perfusion and oxygen levels, then this may play a role in what is being seen.
Also, during aggressive exercise, the core body temperature can rise above 102 degrees; it is known that B.
burgdorferi is very heat sensitive. Perhaps it is the added tissue oxygenation, or higher body temperature, or
the combination that weakens the Lyme Borrelia, and allows the antibiotics and our defenses to be more
effective. Regular exercise-related movements can help mobilize lymph and enhance circulation. In addition,
there is now evidence that a carefully structured exercise program may benefit T-cell function: this function will
depress for 12 to 24+ hours after exercise, but then rebound. This T-cell depression is more pronounced after
aerobics which is why aerobics are not allowed. The goal is to exercise intermittently, with exercise days
separated by days of total rest, including an effort to have plenty of quality sleep. The trick is to time the
exercise days to take advantage of these rebounds. For an example, begin with an exercise day followed by 3
to 5 rest days; as stamina improves, then fewer rest days will be needed in between workouts. However,
because T-cell functions do fall for at least one day after aggressive exercises, be sure to never exercise two
days in a row. Finally, an in intermittent exercise program, properly executed, may help to reset the HPA axis
more towards normal. On the following page is an exercise prescription that details these recommendations.