Any ideas? - Bell's Palsy Message Board

mjgillham · 08-02-2007, 04:24 PM

Starting on Saturday my son woke up early in the morning screaming and crying. Complaining that his right knee hurt and that he couldn't move it. Since then at some points he can stand on it but its always with a limp and other times with INactivity it would get to where he couldn't walk again. On day two a rash started that covered most of his body. It is now almost gone after being treated with benadryl and hydrocortisone cream. He has a constant low grade fever and very swollen lymphnodes in his neck and under his arms, worse on the right side. Although with plenty of rest his knee seems to slowly be getting better he still has swollen lymphnodes and a fever that won't go away. If it helps any he was sick about a week and a half before with a stomach bug/sore throat, and even though that is all gone he got sick a few days ago but just the once. Does anyone have any clue as to what may be going on with my son?

penybobeny · 08-04-2007, 02:46 AM

Don't be quick to decide that it was just a stomach bug at the same time as a sore throat, swollen nodes, temp, rash and painful knee, all just happening to hit at once.

I would suggest taking him to the Dr if he is not 90%better by Monday, and to the ER if his temp goes back up... it might just be a virus that has to run it's course but it could be something more serious and with anything, catching and treating a disease early is much easier than trying to rid the body of one that has had time to establish itself.

ticker · 08-04-2007, 01:37 PM

Hi mjgillham. I am sorry your son is sick. How old is he?

What did his rash look like?

I think it is possible your son my have Lyme disease. Lyme disease is a mutli-system bacterial infection caused from the bite of an infected tick. Below is a Lyme symptom list. You can have any combination of symptoms.

Unexplained fevers, sweats, chills, or flushing
Unexplained weight change--loss or gain
Fatigue, tiredness, poor stamina
Unexplained hair loss
Swollen glands
Sore throat
Testicular pain/pelvic pain
Unexplained menstrual irregularity
Unexplained milk production: breast pain
Irritable bladder or bladder dysfunction
Sexual dysfunction or loss of libido
Upset stomach
Change in bowel function-constipation, diarrhea
Chest pain or rib soreness
Shortness of breath, cough
Heart palpitations, pulse skips, heart block
Any history of a heart murmur or valve prolapse?
Joint pain or swelling
Stiffness of the joints, neck, or back
Muscle pain or cramps
Twitching of the face or other muscles
Headache
Neck creeks and cracks, neck stiffness, neck pain
Tingling, numbness, burning or stabbing sensations, shooting pains
Facial paralysis (Bell's Palsy)
Eyes/Vision: double, blurry, increased floaters, light sensitivity
Ears/Hearing: buzzing, ringing, ear pain, sound sensitivity
lncreased motion sickness, vertigo, poor balance
Lightheadedness, wooziness
Tremor
Confusion, difficulty in thinking
Difficulty with concentration, reading
Forgetfulness, poor short term memory
Disorientation: getting lost, going to wrong places
Difficulty with speech or writing
Mood swings, irritability, depression
Disturbed sleep-too much, too little, early awakening
Exaggerated symptoms or worse hangover from alcohol

When Lyme disease is a possibility, it is very important to see a knowledgeable doctor. Many doctors do not understand Lyme and treat with outdated protocols. No test is completely reliable, and results can vary by lab.

Besides Lyme, ticks can also transmit several co-infections including Babesiosis, two types of Ehrlichiosis (HME & HGE), Bartonella, and Mycoplasma. It is estimated that 60% of people who have Lyme are co-infected. It may affect treatment choice and progress. It is important to be tested for these by a Lyme reputable lab such as IgeneX in Palo Alto, CA.

If you think this may be a possibility and would like a doctor recommendation, let me know.

I hope he feels better soon.