I either have lyme or parkinson's...trying to figure that out, if that's even possible. One of the things that the neurologist found that lead him to the parkinson's dx was "cogwheel rigidity" I know that lyme can cause the tremor and weakness that i have been having on my right side, but if lyme is presenting as parkinson like syndrome, will cogwheel rigidty be present, or is that symptom specific to parkinson's? I have also posted this question on the lyme forum
thanks

Did your Dr give you some Sinemet to try?..If it relieves your symptoms, then its probably pd

If you have lost your sense of smell, that would also indicate Parkinson's.
This can precede PD by up to 4 years.
Good luck
Ron

have yourself tested to see if it is lyme disease
- info
Lyme Disease Test
A Lyme disease test detects antibodies to the Lyme disease bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi in the blood. Lyme disease bacteria is spread by certain kinds of ticks.

Lyme disease may be hard to detect because its symptoms are similar to those of many other illnesses. If you and your doctor think you have Lyme disease, your doctor will do a careful medical history and physical exam. Antibody tests can sometimes be used to help identify Lyme disease. Other tests may be done in certain situations.

Antibody tests
Antibody tests are the most commonly used tests to help identify Lyme disease and keep track of its treatment. Antibody testing may also be done on fluid from the spine or from a joint.

It may take up to 2 months after becoming infected before antibodies can be detected in a blood test. Once formed, antibodies usually stay in your system for many years, even after successful treatment of the disease. Finding antibodies to the Lyme disease bacteria does not tell whether you were infected recently or sometime in the past.

There are three types of antibody tests to detect Lyme disease.
http://arthritis.webmd.com/lyme-disease-test

you may have to do the research, because I hope you do not have PD,
too many people are thrown into this category!

so push for better results, and get another opinion -
that is what I would do.

thank you for your answers. I have been on sinemet for a few months now and it seems to be helping with the tremor. that was one of the things that the neurologist based his pd dx on. I have lyme tests pending with igenex and am waiting for that. If it is lyme that is presenting like pd, is the mechanism of the illness the same, are the dopamine producing cells dying? does that mean that the symptoms are irreversable? will progression be able to be stopped? If i cannot find agreement, i think that the wisest move would be to get the lyme treatment and see if it helps? i got back a cd57 test today and it was low, 42 when the normal range is 60-360...i understand that is not diagnostic, but given that i have had one positive and one negative western blot, would that be confirmation of lyme?

dear one,
if it is lyme disease heal it first, then the part of the brain that may be damaged from lyme illness, will heal, and perhaps the symptoms will stop as well, some doctors tell people -you will never be well -
here is a couple of links perhaps that will help you research lyme
http://www.lymeinfo.net/alt.html
http://www.dancingviolets.com/media/pdf/LymeDisease.pdf
dont listen: show them you can heal... I have seen cancer healed when the doctors gave my sister -"perhaps a year to live" - she is fine and alive!


you are in my prayers.