Unrecognized Lyme disease leads to 16 joint surgeries
By Meghan Holohan
Today.com
When Meghan Bradshaw began fainting and experiencing joint pain, she visited many doctors. At first, they suspected that she might have a vitamin D deficiency or that she was anemic.
By her early 20s, her symptoms became “debilitating” and she passionately searched for answers. After years of being misdiagnosed, she learned she has Lyme disease, which caused arthritis, leading to 16 joint surgeries before the age of 30.
“While it’s extreme, my story really highlights a lot of the things that other people experience, like delayed diagnosis and misdiagnosis and having a general unawareness of the dangers of ticks,” the 29-year-old told TODAY.
Meghan Bradshaw has had the joints in her lower extremities completely replaced. A late diagnosis of Lyme arthritis plus a connective tissue disorder likely contributed to the severity of her joint deterioration and the need for so many joint replacements before turning 30. (Courtesy Meghan Bradshaw)
We invite you to comment on our Facebook page.
Visit LymeDisease.org Facebook Page