Normal Brain MRI Does Not Rule Out Various Headache Causes, Including Lyme Disease
A normal brain MRI does not automatically explain persistent headaches, as many common headache disorders do not produce visible abnormalities on routine imaging. Conditions such as migraine, tension-type headache, medication-overuse headache, sleep disorders, and neck-related problems can all cause headaches without structural changes detectable by MRI. The American Headache Society does not recommend routine neuroimaging for patients with headaches consistent with migraine, a normal neurological examination, and no atypical features. Dr. Daniel Cameron, a Lyme disease clinician, highlights that Lyme disease can also cause headaches, even with a normal MRI. Early Lyme disease can present with headache alongside fatigue, fever, muscle aches, and joint pain, while neurologic Lyme disease may include headache, facial palsy, radicular pain, sensory symptoms, and meningitis. A routine brain MRI does not diagnose or exclude Lyme disease, and patients can experience significant neurological symptoms without an M... 
