Causes of Joint Pain

Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi. It is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected black-legged ticks. Early symptoms, that appear from 3 to 30 days after infection, include a red, expanding rash, fatigue, chills, fever, headache, muscle and joint aches and swollen lymph nodes. Untreated, the infection can spread to the joints, the heart and the nervous system. According to the CDC, intermittent episodes of arthritis, characterized by severe joint pain and swelling, occur in approximately 60% of patients with untreated Lyme disease. Large joints, particularly the knees, are most often affected.