Ever had Lyme disease with muscle twitching or fasciculations? Then you might be thinking what it means.
These movements of involuntary muscles are more frequent in people with Lyme disease than you think and can cause due to bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, impacting the nervous system to a condition called Lyme neuroborreliosis.
Defining muscle fasciculations as small and visible twitches under the skin leads through contraction of involuntary muscles.
Through this blog, we will explore muscle fasciculations in detail, how they can connect with Lyme disease, and what steps you can take for prevention.
What are Neurological Effects of Lyme Disease?
As we know Lyme disease is caused by the Borrelia burgdorferi, which affects the nervous system and resulting in neurological symptoms.
So understanding this concept of impacts and identifying common symptoms are important for early diagnosis and treatment plan.
Below are the points which describe the concept:-
Through a tick bite, bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi entering in the body, can transmit via the blood stream and lymphatic system up to the nervous system.
Bacteria can cross the blood brain barrier through paracellular transport, transcellular transport, or the Trojan horse mechanisms which describe the host cells carrying the Borrelia burgdorferi into the nervous system.
Once bacteria reaches the nervous system, it causes inflammation and damage to nerve tissues.
This damage leads to various neurological problems, like Lyme neuroborreliosis, which encircles meningitis, radiculitis, and cranial neuritis.
Here are some common neurological symptoms:-
- Muscle fasciculation
- Facial palsy
- Cognitive impairment
- Meningitis
- Radiculopathy
These signs and symptoms occur in the initial phase of Lyme disease.
What are Muscle Fasciculations?
- Involuntary, visible twitches or contraction of the muscle fibers under the skin is called Muscle fasciculations. These types of twitches can occur in any part of the body and are harmless.
- But when it comes with Lyme disease, this can indicate neurological involvement.
- According to a case study from International Journal of Neuroscience, a patient with frequently progressive weakness, and atrophy, and fasciculations was diagnosed as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis initially.
- But after further assessment, the result was identified as Lyme disease as the underlying cause.
- The resolution for the symptoms was antibiotics recommended by healthcare experts.
- It is important to understand the distinctions because muscle fasciculations associated with Lyme disease require a specific treatment approach.
- These are some distinguish muscle fasciculations different from muscle related symptoms: muscle cramps, muscle weakness, and tremors.
Mechanism of Muscle Fasciculations
Considering Lyme disease, bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi can affect peripheral nerves which can lead to inflammation and nerve dysfunction.
Inflammation can disturb normal signalling of the nerve, leading to spontaneous contraction of muscles (characteristics of fasciculations).
This nerve involvement is through Lyme neuroborreliosis under radiculoneuropathy, causing symptoms such as - tingling, numbness and muscle twitching in the legs or arms.
Here are point of impacts through Lyme associated inflammation:-
- Bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi damage the cells directly which can lead to nerve cell destruction.
- Due to infection in the immune system, it releases proinflammatory cytokines which result in nerve damage.
- Blood brain barrier(BBB) is affected by the bacteria because of degradation in the tight junctions, resulting in entry of pathogens in the (CNS) central nervous system and leads to further inflammation.
Distinguishing Lyme Fasciculations from other cases
Muscle fasciculations also known as involuntary muscle twitches are an indication of several conditions which include Lyme disease.
Moreover, these twitches are not the sole cause of Lyme disease, so it is crucial to differentiate them from other causes to confirm the correct diagnosis and treatment plan.
Below are conditions with muscle fasciculations which needs to be considered:-
- Infective myositis - Infection causes inflammation which leads to fasciculations but with other signs as fever, and muscle pain.
- Guillain Barre Syndrome - This is an autoimmune condition which impacts the peripheral nervous system resulting in rapid muscle and paralysis.
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis - This causes muscle weakness and twitching.
So, it is important to identify the main root cause of muscle fasciculations because as an example - a patient got misdiagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, but after some time found to have Lyme disease. Here antibiotics responded well and showed how it is crucial to keep in mind that Lyme disease can be a possible cause.
