For most people, early treatment for Lyme disease, a bacterial infection passed along by tick bites, effectively resolves the symptoms. Other people experience symptoms well beyond the initial treatment, which is a condition known as chronic Lyme disease. This condition is often accompanied by ongoing joint pain, as well as other symptoms.
Doctors are not entirely sure why some people experience chronic symptoms, and some researchers even question the existence of chronic Lyme disease. However, for those who experience chronic symptoms, the condition appears to be very real.
Antibiotics can treat the bacterial infection that causes Lyme disease. In many cases, medications are taken orally, but people with ongoing joint pain may receive medications intravenously.
Under normal circumstances, antibiotic treatment of Lyme disease usually lasts from 10 days to two weeks. With chronic symptoms, such as joint pain, treatment may take longer. In some cases, doctors may choose not to provide antibiotics after the initial treatment course due to concerns about antibiotic resistance and other risks.
People with chronic forms of Lyme disease may experience symptoms for an extended period of time. Some people may be ill for months, while others may experience health issues for years. The chances of chronic Lyme disease increase when initial treatment is not sought, but even those who received the correct antibiotics medication can still develop lasting symptoms.
Because there is debate on whether continued antibiotics regimens are effective at treating chronic Lyme disease, your doctor might recommend other treatments to manage symptoms. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can reduce inflammation and pain in the joints, as can intra-articular steroids, which are administered via injection.