Inflammation and infection can occur when bacteria from the bite gets to the joints. More severe pain can result from larger joints such as the hips and knees. This condition is called Lyme arthritis and affects around 60 percent of patients who do not receive antibiotic treatment in the early stages of the disease (via Science Daily).
Science Daily: Dr. Aristides Cruz, chief orthopaedic resident, Yale-New Haven Hospital “Lyme arthritis occurs when the spirochete, the bacteria that causes the disease, invades the joints and causes inflammation to the tissue that lines the joints. If left untreated, this inflammatory response can cause the cartilage within the joints to become damaged.”
Joint inflammation can be a late-onset symptom that is often misdiagnosed as a different type of arthritis. Early diagnosis can help to prevent more severe, long-term problems. Dr. Cruz explains, “Lyme arthritis has an excellent prognosis with appropriate treatment… The key is to diagnose Lyme disease early to avoid development of arthritis, and to differentiate between Lyme arthritis and other types of arthritis in symptomatic patients.”