In simple words: Lyme disease can sometimes cause arthritis, making your joints swollen, red, tender, and painful. This happens when the bacteria that cause Lyme disease spread to your joints.You might also have a fever, skin sores or rashes where the tick bit you, feel very tired, and have pain that moves from one joint to another. Doctors can diagnose this by examining you and doing blood tests. Treatment usually involves antibiotics.

Arthritis due to Lyme disease is a complication that develops when the Lyme disease-causing bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi, spreads from the initial site of infection (the tick bite) to the joints. This can result in joint inflammation, pain, swelling, and limited movement. Lyme disease itself is a bacterial infection transmitted to humans through the bite of infected black-legged ticks.

Example 1: A patient presents with joint pain, swelling, and limited range of motion several weeks after a known tick bite and a history of an erythema migrans rash. Blood tests confirm Lyme disease, and A69.23 is used to code the Lyme arthritis., A patient with a history of untreated Lyme disease develops chronic joint pain and swelling.After further investigation, the physician determines the joint issues are a direct result of the previous Lyme infection, and A69.23 is used., A patient experiences migratory arthritis affecting multiple large joints, along with fever and fatigue.Serological testing confirms Lyme disease, and A69.23 is used to specify the arthritic manifestation of the disease.

Documentation should include evidence of a tick bite, the presence of characteristic Lyme disease symptoms (e.g., erythema migrans rash, fever, fatigue), positive Lyme disease serology, and clinical findings related to joint inflammation (e.g., swelling, pain, limited range of motion).