Other neurological problems

Neurological symptoms might be subtle and particular at times. In general, you may feel unsteady or uncoordinated in your movements. Walking down a little incline in your driveway may need more work than usual. You may trip and fall more times, even if this has never occurred before. Some Lyme disease symptoms are particularly specific. The Lyme bacteria, for example, may affect one or more of your cranial nerves. These are the 12 nerve pairs that run from your brain to your head and neck.

If germs infiltrate the seventh cranial nerve, you may have muscular weakness or paralysis on one or both sides of your face. This palsy is sometimes incorrectly referred to as Bell's palsy. Lyme disease is one of the rare disorders that can induce facial palsies on both sides. You may also have numbness and tingling on your face. Other cranial nerves that are damaged can cause loss of taste and smell. A survey of 248,074 documented Lyme disease cases worldwide from 1992 to 2006 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) discovered that 13% of Lyme patients experienced cranial nerve symptoms.

Lyme bacteria can inflame the tissues where the brain and spinal cord connect as they travel through the neurological system (the meninges). Neck discomfort or stiffness, headache, and light sensitivity are all frequent signs of Lyme meningitis. Encephalopathy, which causes mental changes, is less prevalent. These neurological symptoms affect around 10% of adults with untreated Lyme disease.