LYME DISEASE
Every year, around 30,000 Lyme disease cases are reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), although many more may go undiagnosed or unreported. At InfusionMD in The Woodlands, Texas, Jessen Mukalel, MD, offers infusion therapy to relieve pain and other symptoms caused by persistent or chronic Lyme disease. Call the practice today or schedule a consultation online to find out if infusion therapy is right for you.
Lyme Disease Q & A
What is Lyme disease?
While a course of antibiotics can usually treat Lyme disease, some patients experience persistent symptoms or go on to develop chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), and other neurological pain problems.
What are the warning signs of Lyme disease?
A bull’s-eye-shaped rash around the tick bite is the telltale sign of Lyme disease. However, the infection also causes flu-like symptoms, including:
- Muscle aches and stiffness
- Joint pain
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Fever and chills
- Swollen lymph nodes
In some cases, Lyme disease can also cause neurological symptoms, arthritis, and heart problems.
When should I talk to a doctor about Lyme disease?
You should make an appointment with Dr. Mukalel at InfusionMD if you have any signs of Lyme disease. The sooner you get a diagnosis and start treatment, the better.
Dr. Mukalel provides a physical exam and lab tests, including enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot testing, to confirm that your symptoms are due to Lyme disease.
How do you treat Lyme disease?
When Lyme disease is caught in its early stages, a course of antibiotics can often treat it effectively. However, if you have persistent symptoms, Dr. Mukalel recommends ketamine infusion therapy.
Ketamine infusions target your N-Methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in your brain and spinal cord. Your NMDA receptors contribute to how your body experiences and responds to pain signals.
Each patient responds differently to ketamine infusion therapy. Your symptoms may disappear after just one infusion, or you might need a series of treatments.
What should I expect during ketamine infusion therapy?
Ketamine infusion therapy is a relaxing experience. While you rest in a comfortable chair, Dr. Mukalel inserts your IV and starts your customized infusion. You can bring blankets, pillows, and headphones to increase your comfort during your infusion.
Dr. Mukalele or a clinical team member stays with you throughout your infusion. You might feel sleepy or tingly, and some patients experience floating or “out-of-body” sensations during treatment.
When your infusion is complete, a friend or family member should drive you home. Any lingering tiredness should subside after a good night’s sleep.
Call Infusion MD or schedule an appointment online today if you have any signs of Lyme disease.
Learn more about our services:
IV INFUSIONS & VITAMIN THERAPY
DEPRESSION & ANXIETY
FIBROMYALGIA
OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER
COMPLEX REGIONAL PAIN SYNDROME
POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy
