Transverse Myelitis

Transverse myelitis is a disease involving the spinal cord. "Myelitis" refers to an inflammation of the spinal cord and "transverse" specifies that the inflammation goes across the width. Transverse myelitis is a neurological disorder and may occur at one or more segments of the spinal cord and affects adults and children, in both genders, in all races, and with no family predisposition toward the disease apparent.

The exact cause of transverse myelitis is not known. In some people, transverse myelitis may be a symptom of an underlying disease of the central nervous system such as multiple sclerosis or neuromyelitis optica. All patients with transverse myelitis should be evaluated for these diseases because patients with such a diagnosis may require a different course of treatment or therapy to prevent future attacks.

There are theories that transverse myelitis may also be related to any the following:

Spinal cord injuries
Insufficient blood flow through the blood vessels in the spinal cord
Immune disorders
Autoimmune process where the body's immune system attacks the spinal cord
Multiple sclerosis
Sarcoidosis
Sjogren's syndrome
Systemic lupus erythematosus
Some cancers may trigger an abnormal immune response
Viral infections
Cytomegalovirus
Echovirus
Enteroviruses
Poliomyelitis
Coxsackie virus
Echovirus
Epstein-Barr
Hepatitis A
Herpes simplex
Herpes zoster
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
Human T-cell leukemia virus
Influenza
Rubella
Varicella zoster (the virus that causes chickenpox and shingles)
Bacterial pneumonia (mycoplasma pneumoniae)
Bacterial skin infections
Middle ear infections (otitis media)
Complication of another disorder or disease
Lyme disease
Measles
Multiple sclerosis
Optic neuromyelitis
Rabies
Smallpox
Syphilis
Tuberculosis
Some vaccinations (including chickenpox and rabies)

Cases in which a cause cannot be identified are called idiopathic, meaning arising spontaneously or from an obscure or unknown cause.

Attacks to the spinal cord can erode the fatty substance, known as the myelin sheath, that normally insulates and protects nerve fibers. This damage or destruction of myelin is referred to as demyelination and may interrupt communications between nerves in the spinal cord and the rest of the body. Depending on where the damage occurs, different parts of the body may be affected. Acute transverse myelitis may develop over hours to several days. Subacute transverse myelitis usually develops over one to four weeks.

Transverse myelitis may be associated with:

Loss of spinal cord function (from several hours to several weeks)
Sudden onset of lower back pain
Sharp shooting sensations that radiate down the legs, arms, or around the torso
Muscle weakness and coordination
Abnormal sensations in toes, feet, or legs (may be called paresthesias)
Burning
Tickling
Pricking
Tingling
Sensory disturbance
Numbness
Tingling
Coldness
Burning
Heightened sensitivity to touch (may also be called allodynia)
Heightened sensitivity to changes in temperature or to extreme heat or cold
Paralysis
Urinary retention
Loss of bowel control
Respiratory problems
Some patients report muscle spasms, a general feeling of discomfort, headache, fever, and loss of appetite

Physicians diagnose transverse myelitis by taking a medical history and performing a neurological examination. Physicians should try and eliminate any potentially treatable underlying causes first, which may include a number of tests and/or procedures. If nothing suggests a specific cause, the patient is presumed to have idiopathic transverse myelitis.

There is no specific treatment for transverse myelitis. Recovery may begin between two and twelve weeks after onset and may continue for up to two years. Some patients recover from transverse myelitis with minor or no residual problems. However, most suffer permanent impairments affecting their ability to perform ordinary tasks of daily living, including significant motor, sensory, and bowel problems. Most patients will have only one episode of transverse myelitis and a small percentage may have a recurrence.

If you or a loved one were harmed relating to your diagnosis or treatment of transverse myelitis or its associated symptoms or causes, please contact Sweeney Law Firm to see if you have a case. There is no fee unless a recovery is made for you.