Understanding & Treating Lyme disease: The Facts You Need to Know
Lyme disease is unfortunately one of the most misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and mistreated disorders in the United States. In today’s article, the experienced physicians at Urban Wellness Group share their expertise and approach to treating Lyme disease using Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) and IV therapy.
If you or someone you know is suffering from unexplained symptoms or believe that your Lyme disease treatment was ineffective, contact Urban Wellness Group today for more information.
Lyme disease facts
Nearly 300,000 people are diagnosed with Lyme disease each year. However Lyme disease remains an enigmatic and challenging condition to both diagnose and treat effectively.
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread by ticks, small blood sucking parasites. In Oregon the disease is spread by the western blacklegged tick. It is actually immature ticks (as small as 2mm in size) that are responsible for most of the cases of Lyme disease diagnosed in Oregon.
Why?
Immature ticks are more active in spring and summer, the same time of year when people and pets are enjoying the outdoors in Oregon
These tiny ticks are more likely to remain unseen after attaching to a person, increasing the chance of infection
DID YOU KNOW:
Lyme disease cases in Oregon have more than quadrupled in the past 25 years.
Assessing your risk of Lyme disease
Anyone who spends time outdoors in Oregon should be aware of the risks that Lyme disease poses. You can minimize your risk by:
Wearing long pants and shirtsleeves when hiking, especially in heavily forested or wooded areas
Hiking on trails and avoiding tall grasses or vegetation where ticks may hide
Staying away from wildlife like deer and elk that may be host to ticks
Checking your body carefully after spending time outdoors. Look closely around the scalp, armpits, groin, and any other areas a tick may hide.
Inspecting your dogs and cats for ticks
Early symptoms of Lyme disease
If bitten by an infected tick, the earliest symptoms of Lyme disease may present in as little as 3 days. Be aware, however, as many as 30% of Lyme disease sufferers experience no early symptoms at all.
If you find a tick on your body after spending time in the outdoors, be on the lookout for:
Fever or chills
Swollen lymph nodes
Headaches
A “bulls-eye” shape or swelling around the bite
Later symptoms of Lyme disease
Unfortunately, part of the reason that Lyme disease is chronically misdiagnosed has to do with the unpredictability and variability of the symptoms, as well as their delayed onset.
You may have Lyme disease if you experience:
Fatigue and tiredness
Persistent “achy” feelings
Knee and joint pain/stiffness/swelling
Weakness
Lyme disease is also called “the great imitator” as its symptoms often closely match those of:
Food poisoning
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Fibromyalgia
Multiple sclerosis
Depression or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Rheumatoid arthritis
DID YOU KNOW:
Lyme disease affects more than 3 times as many women as men. Plus, more than 1% of dogs in Oregon may be affected by Lyme disease.
Drawbacks of traditional Lyme disease treatments
Even with early diagnosis and treatment, as many as 20% of Lyme disease sufferers experience long-term health effects. Laboratory blood tests can be used to diagnose Lyme disease.
Powerful antibiotics including Doxycycline, Cefuroxime axetil, and Amoxicillin are the traditional treatment for Lyme disease. However antibiotics are not foolproof. Incorrect dosing, failure to complete the treatment protocol, and other factors can reduce the effectiveness of the treatment.
If you’ve been treated for Lyme disease and are still suffering, there are other options.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) for Lyme disease
The bacteria responsible for Lyme disease thrives in an oxygen-free (anaerobic) environment. Conversely, high levels of oxygen (like the 100% pure oxygen breathed during HBOT using the Fortius 420 HBOT chamber) may kill the Lyme disease causing bacteria in your body.
YOU SHOULD KNOW: When using HBOT to fight Lyme disease, dying bacteria may produce toxins that cause fevers and chills. These short-lived side effects should be seen as evidence the treatment is working.
At Urban Wellness Group, our powerful HBOT chambers can be used to create an environment of 100% pure oxygen. Your treatment is relaxing and completely non-invasive.
The HBOT chambers at Urban Wellness Group are among the most powerful in the entire state of Oregon and use the latest and best technology available.
There’s simply no better HBOT Lyme disease treatment available.
Lyme disease and IV therapy
In addition to HBOT, you may consider IV therapy as another option for Lyme Disease treatment. At Urban Wellness Group, our physicians recommend a more general approach to IV therapy for Lyme disease treatment.
Depending on your health needs, our physicians may recommend IV treatments like:
Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) - An antioxidant infusion that may prevent nerve damage
IV Hydrogen Peroxide - Naturally produced by white blood cells, hydrogen peroxide may help fight bacterial infections
The Myers Cocktail - A nutrient-rich IV solution to improve energy and boost immune function
Glutathione - Another strong antioxidant, glutathione may repair cell damage and eliminate toxins
IV Vitamin C - A bacteriostatic agent that may stop bacteria from reproducing
Are you suffering from Lyme disease? Urban Wellness Group can help!
You’ll love the:
Warm, welcoming environment including calm light, natural wood accents, and warm colors.
Relaxed pace of your appointment. You won’t wait long to get started but we won’t rush you through treatment either. You’ll get the care and attention you deserve.
Complimentary tea! Enjoy a cup and relax in our thoughtfully designed waiting area.
Call Urban Wellness Group at (503) 476-9651 or contact us online today to schedule your Lyme disease consultation our Division Street clinic.