A patient who recently had 2 level cervical ADR sent me this article. He also tested positive for Lyme disease, erlichiosis and bartonella. It's an old article, but it is worth repeating since these diseases are so rampant. Many spine patients from our community are from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut!
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Sciatica, disk herniation, and neuroborreliosis. A report of four cases Sciatica, disk herniation, and neuroborreliosis. A report of four cases
Arnaud Dupeyron , , a, Jehan Lecocqa, Benoît Jaulhacb, Marie-Eve Isner-Horobetia, Philippe Vautraversa, Julien Cohen-Solalc, Christelle Sordetc and Jean-Louis Kuntzc
a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, Strasbourg Teaching Hospitals, Avenue Molière, 67098, Strasbourg cedex, France
b School of Medicine, Bacteriology Institute, Louis Pasteur University and Strasbourg Teaching Hospitals, 67000, Strasbourg, France
c Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Department, Strasbourg Teaching Hospitals, Avenue Molière, 67098, Strasbourg cedex, France
Available online 25 September 2003. Abstract
We report four cases of sciatica in patients with same-level disk herniation confirmed by computed tomography and a final diagnosis of acute radiculitis caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, with a favorable response to ceftriaxone therapy. The neurological manifestations of Lyme disease are protean, and a potential contribution of concomitant disk disease to sciatica can lead to diagnostic wanderings. Disk lesions and infectious conditions that can cause sciatica are discussed. Whether a favorable response to antibiotic therapy should be taken as proof of B. burgdorferi radiculitis deserves discussion. In practice, in a patient with clinical manifestations suggesting disk-related nerve root pain and residing or having traveled to an endemic area, B. burgdorferi infection should be looked for, as both etiologies can coexist.
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