Overview
An inflammation that affects both sides of a single spinal cord segment is known as transverse myelitis. This neurological condition frequently destroys the myelin sheath that surrounds nerve cell fibers.
The messages sent throughout the body by the spinal cord nerves are disrupted by transverse myelitis. Pain, paralysis, muscle weakness, sensory issues, or problems with the bladder and bowel might result from this.
An uncommon neurological disorder called transverse myelitis (TM) is brought on by inflammation of the spinal cord. From your brainstem to your low back, the spinal cord is a cylindrical structure that passes through the middle of your spine. Nerve bundles and cells that transmit messages from your brain to the rest of your body are found in this fragile structure.
Your spinal cord’s myelin coating, which surrounds the nerve cells, is harmed by inflammation. Anywhere along your spine, including the area around your spinal cord, TM can occur. The word “myelitis” refers to spinal cord inflammation. “Transverse” describes the pattern of variations in function and experience; your body’s trunk frequently feels like a band.
Infections and immune system illnesses that target the body’s tissues are among the several causes of transverse myelitis. Multiple sclerosis and other myelin disorders may be the reason. Rehabilitative therapy and medication are used to treat transverse myelitis. The majority of transverse myelitis patients make a partial recovery. Sometimes people who have suffered severe assaults end up severely disabled.
What signs of transverse myelitis are present?
Transverse myelitis symptoms might appear over a few hours, days, or even a longer time frame of one to two weeks. These symptoms could be present:
- Neck or back pain
- Weakness in the legs or arms
- Unusual sensations in the legs, including pricking, tingling, or burning
- loss of control over the bowels or bladder
- Increased sensitivity to touch
The area of the spinal cord that is inflamed determines where these symptoms appear in the body. When someone has neck inflammation, they usually experience symptoms from the neck down. Symptoms of mid-spinal inflammation can extend from the waist down.
Reasons for transverse myelitis
One uncommon condition affecting the nervous system is transverse myelitis. The cause is frequently unknown. However, certain conditions may lead to transverse myelitis:
- Bacterial, viral, parasitic, or fungal infection, such as HIV, syphilis, varicella zoster (shingles), West Nile virus, Zika virus, enteroviruses, and Lyme disease
- Immune system disorders, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), Sjögren syndrome, and lupus
- Other inflammatory disorders, such as sarcoidosis, or a connective tissue disease called scleroderma
- Blood vessel diseases that affect the spine
Making a diagnosis
Based on your responses to inquiries regarding your symptoms, medical history, a clinical evaluation of nerve function, and test results, a physician will make the diagnosis of transverse myelitis.
These tests, which can rule out other conditions and reveal spinal cord inflammation, include the following:
- A magnetic field and radio waves are used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to produce three-dimensional images of soft tissues.
- A tiny amount of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), the fluid that surrounds your brain and spinal cord, is extracted with a needle during a lumbar puncture, also known as a spinal tap.
Additionally, spinal fluid can be examined for specific malignancies or viral infections.
What is the treatment for transverse myelitis?
Although there isn’t a cure for TM, there are therapies that can help lessen its symptoms.
- TM is frequently treated with intravenous (IV) corticosteroid medication, which is administered through the veins.
- If you don’t react well to corticosteroid therapy, plasmapheresis, also known as plasma exchange therapy, may be helpful. It functions by eliminating your body’s plasma. Proteins and antibodies found in plasma are believed to be the source of the inflammatory response.
- Another treatment for immune system reset is intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG).
- A doctor might recommend an antiviral medication if TM is being caused by a virus. The pain brought on by this illness is also managed with the use of painkillers.