We would like to start our article with a separate case, one patient.
When she was 27, she and her friends were on a picnic in the forest, something bit her, but she did not attach any importance to it. A couple of days later, she found red spots on her skin, taking them for an allergic reaction to some product. A few weeks later, she felt very unwell: complete loss of strength, low temperature, chills.
They began to treat her as a cold, but this did not bring any results. Then the doctor prescribed stronger drugs, but they did not help either. For more than a year she was constantly in bed, during which time she was treated with antidepressants, neurostimulants, etc. Therapy with long-term antibiotics helped the patient a little and she returned to work.
For 22 years after this incident, the patient had rheumatoid arthritis and changed 2 knee joints, has hypothyroidism, severe neurological pain throughout the body, a number of unsuccessful pregnancies. After 22 years of suffering and ordeals, she was finally diagnosed with Lyme disease, but the devastating damage that Borrelia had done to her body was simply irreparable.
The patient came to us already in a wheelchair, unable to move independently. Her case, like all the others, was assessed individually and therapy was selected based on her severe anamnesis.The therapy was based on restarting the immune system, stopping the autoimmune response, working with the restoration of neural connections, sensitivity of nerve endings and eliminating complications of the musculoskeletal system, endocrine problems, metabolic changes in the functioning of internal organs.
The patient felt the first changes after treatment in the 4th week (the first 3 weeks were sometimes easier, sometimes worse – this is how the immune system adapted to the therapy): pain in the body decreased, more strength appeared, sleep improved, tachycardia and noise in the head passed.
After 3 months, the patient no longer used a wheelchair at home, she could independently perform household tasks.
The patient’s control after 6 months gave a fairly high score of improvements, in comparison with the condition in which she came to us (on average 64% on the condition assessment scale).
If Lyme disease (an infection caused by tick-borne Borrelia bacteria) is left untreated, it can lead to serious complications because the bacteria can spread throughout the body and cause long-term inflammation in various systems and organs. This bacterium has a unique ability to adapt and evade the immune system and can remain in tissues for many years, causing chronic inflammation and damage.
Complications of Lyme Disease if Untreated
Neurological Disorders:
An untreated infection can spread to the nervous system, causing a condition called neuroborreliosis.This leads to symptoms such as pain, weakness in the limbs, loss of sensation, and even inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.
Chronic neuroborreliosis can lead to permanent cognitive impairment, memory problems, loss of coordination, and even depression.
Lyme arthritis:
Often, the infection spreads to the joints, causing inflammation and damage to the joints. This condition, known as Lyme arthritis, can become chronic, leading to constant pain and deformity of the joints, especially the knees.
Over time, this can lead to degenerative changes in the cartilage tissue, which significantly reduces mobility and quality of life.
Heart complications (borreliosis carditis):
Damage to the heart tissue can cause abnormal heart rhythms, inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis) and endocardium (endocarditis).
In severe cases, this can lead to the need for a pacemaker due to persistent arrhythmia or even heart failure.
Dermatological problems:
Some patients develop chronic skin lesions, such as acrodermatitis atrophicans, an inflammation of the skin that over time leads to thinning and loss of sensation.
Systemic inflammatory processes:
The introduction of bacteria and their metabolic products into tissues causes a long-term immune response, which in the long term can lead to autoimmune reactions.
This can lead to chronic fatigue, persistent muscle and joint pain, cognitive impairment, and other manifestations characteristic of autoimmune diseases.
Why do Borrelia bacteria cause severe complications?
Evasion of the immune response:
Borrelia are able to change their surface proteins, which allows them to evade destruction by the immune system. This mechanism makes it difficult for the bacteria to be recognized and destroyed.
Long-term persistence:
The bacteria can remain dormant in body tissues, especially joints and nerve tissues, remaining there for long periods of time and causing chronic inflammation.
Presence of biofilms:
Studies show that Borrelia can form biofilms that protect them from antibiotics and immune cells, making them difficult to completely destroy.
Is it possible to completely cure Lyme disease?
It is possible to completely cure Lyme disease with timely diagnosis and early treatment. In the early stages (usually in the first weeks after a tick bite), Lyme disease responds well to antibiotic treatment, and most patients fully recover without further complications.Possibilities of complete recovery at different stages
Early stage (localized infection):
If Lyme disease is detected at this stage (usually the first weeks after the bite, when the characteristic ring-shaped rash – “erythema migrans” – appears), treatment with standard antibiotics (eg, doxycycline, amoxicillin) for 10-21 days almost always leads to complete recovery.
Disseminated infection:
In later stages (several months after infection), when the infection may spread to the joints, nervous system or heart, partial recovery is also possible. However, this requires longer treatment.
Late stage (chronic infection):
If Lyme disease remains untreated for a long time and becomes chronic, complete eradication of the infection is no longer possible, and symptoms may persist even after a course of antibiotics. Some patients with chronic Lyme disease develop persistent symptoms known as post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS), which can include fatigue, muscle and joint pain, and cognitive impairment.
At this stage, although antibiotics can kill any remaining bacteria, symptoms may persist as a result of autoimmune or inflammatory reactions that require additional treatment.
Factors Affecting Treatment Success
Timing of Treatment:
The earlier treatment is started, the greater the chance of a full recovery.
Patient Immune System:
Patients with weakened immune systems are more likely to have a prolonged infection and chronic symptoms.
Severity of infection and presence of complications:
If the infection has spread to the nervous or cardiac system, longer treatment and complex therapy may be required for full recovery.
Why is a lumbar stem cell injection recommended for Lyme disease
A lumbar stem cell injection for Lyme disease is used to deliver cells directly into the cerebrospinal fluid and central nervous system (CNS). This is especially true in cases where Lyme disease has progressed to a late stage and has affected the nervous system (neuroborreliosis), causing complications such as inflammation of the brain and nerves, cognitive impairment, chronic pain, and fatigue.
Why is a lumbar stem cell injection used for Lyme disease?
Direct access to the CNS:
The central nervous system is protected by the blood-brain barrier, which makes it difficult for many substances and cells to penetrate. Injecting stem cells directly into the cerebrospinal fluid allows them to be delivered to the affected area, which increases the effectiveness of the therapy.
Nerve tissue restoration:
Stem cells can stimulate the restoration of damaged neurons and other cells in the CNS. In Lyme disease, this can be especially useful for eliminating chronic inflammation and relieving neuropathic symptoms.
Anti-inflammatory effect:
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have pronounced anti-inflammatory properties, reducing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and helping to reduce inflammation. This helps reduce the symptoms of neuroborreliosis and prevent further tissue damage.
Immunomodulation:
Stem cells can correct the excessive immune response that sometimes occurs in chronic Lyme disease. This reduces autoimmune reactions that can result from long-term infection.
Stimulating regeneration:
Stem cells release growth factors and regenerative molecules that help repair tissue and improve the condition of patients with CNS damage.
How does this help with complications of Lyme disease?
A lumbar injection allows stem cells to more quickly reach damaged areas of the CNS and begin to act on the sources of inflammation, neuronal damage, and immune dysfunction. This offers hope for improvement in patients with chronic symptoms that are resistant to traditional treatment.
Each patient with Lyme disease will find their own successful treatment protocol in our clinic.