Treatment of Lyme Disease Depends on its Autoimmune Response

Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital are studying whether it is helpful to add disease-altering drugs such as those used to treat rheumatoid arthritis to antibiotics first line to treat Lyme disease.  Side effects are of some concern.  A much safer and less expensive way to treat the secondary autoimmune response of Lyme is low-dose immunotherapy (LDI).

See the American Academy of Environmental Medicine, especially the work of Ty Vincent.

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Relief of Pain with B-complex

I have had reports of TTFD and niacinamide giving pain relief from two different physicians prominent in the field of nutritional medicine, Derrick Lonsdale and Jonathan Wright.  Both of them emphasize that if you take single B-vitamins over time you can create an imbalance of other B-vitamins.  It is best to take high potency B1, B6, and B12 concurrently or perhaps separately, even 3 or 4 a day to accomplish significant pain relief from osteoarthritis or muscle pain.  Rare cases of B6 given independently in doses greater than 200 mg a day have resulted in toxicity.

See Jonathan Wright’ Green Medicine, Sept. 2016 and Derrick Lonsdale, personal communication, November, 2016.

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See a doc from InternationalCollege of Integrative Medicine

American College for Advancementin Medicine  American Academy of Environmental Medicine

What Kind of Arthritis Do You Have?

The pattern of joint swelling and pain might be as important as sophisticated testing to distinguish the type of arthritis you have.  Multiple joints are usually involved with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and autoimmune problems.  Autoimmune and rheumatoid arthritis are more likely to be symmetrical and involve the upper body. Lower body involvement points more toward osteoarthritis and gout.  Of course it is also possible to have more than one form of these common diseases.  Your diagnosis is important because the treatment might be different for different conditions.

See Family Practice News, March issue, p. 4.

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Screening Tests that Make Sense for Senior Citizens

The risk of complications from colonoscopies might outweigh the potential benefits after the age of 75, unless you have a history of polyps previously treated.  Mammograms over the age of 70 and sometimes earlier than that can lead to overtreatment.  Thermographies might be better as a preventive test.  With no previous history of precancerous lesions, pap smears can be discontinued at age 65.  PSA’s have no benefit after the age of 75 and are optional for men before that.  Bone density tests are recommended every five years, beginning at age 65 for women and 70 for men.  One ultrasound per lifetime to screen for abdominal aneurysm is recommended.  I would add CardioRisk tests for arterial plaque, a questionnaire for the risk of falls, and periodic blood tests for vitamin D, CRP sensitive, glucose, Lp(a), and other lipids.

 See AARP Magazine, February/March issue, 2017, p. 24-25.

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