Crystal's MS,Transverse Myelitis and LDN Website

The severity of TM varies from mild (mild weakness, mild sensory change, or mild alteration of urinary and bowel function) to severe (total paralysis, complete loss of sensation, and complete loss of urinary and bowel control).

There are many causes of transverse myelitis. They include:

Multiple sclerosis — TM caused by multiple sclerosis tends to affect only one side of the body. A person with this form of TM might retain his or her muscle strength but lose the ability to experience sensation. In general, this is not a severe form of TM.

Autoimmune diseases — Diseases such as lupus, in which the body turns its immune system on itself, might cause attacks of TM.

Infections — Many types of viral infections have been associated with TM, including herpes simplex, influenza, HIV, Epstein-Barr virus, and rabies. Bacterial infections thought to cause TM include tuberculosis, syphilis, and Lyme borreliosis (Lyme disease).

Transverse myelitis might also occur without the presence of other diseases or infection. When the underlying cause is not apparent, it is referred to as idiopathic transverse myelitis.

TM is usually a monophasic illness (occurring only once). However, in a few patients, it might recur, especially when TM is caused by an underlying illness or multiple sclerosis.

Diagnosis
The most common approach to diagnosing TM is to rule out other diseases and disorders. The first step a doctor takes is to review a patient’s medical history and perform a physical examination. Since spinal cord injuries and their causes often cannot be detected through a physical examination, further tests must often be performed.

One of the first things a doctor will look for is a lesion that could be compressing the spinal cord. Lesions can be a herniated disc, tumor, or stenosis (narrowed canal for the spinal cord). It is important to discover lesions early on because surgery can often reverse any damage done to the spinal cord. The test most often used to detect a lesion is the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

If no lesions are present, the next option might be blood work. By testing a patient’s blood, the doctor can rule out other disorders such as lupus, HIV infection, or a vitamin B12 deficiency. Usually, a lumbar puncture is also performed. Lumbar punctures involve withdrawing spinal fluid in order to test it for infections, white blood cell counts, and any abnormal activity of the immune system. Another MRI test might be performed on the brain to check for lesions that might indicate multiple sclerosis.

Treatment and management
Currently there is no cure for TM. Instead, treatment is aimed at managing and relieving the symptoms. Although recovery generally begins naturally after a span of two to 12 weeks, the symptoms are commonly treated with high doses of corticosteroids. Corticosteroids work by reducing inflammation and by reducing the activity of the immune system. The use of these drugs has been shown to be effective in helping patients recover at least partially.

In general, recovery from TM is highly variable among individuals. Approximately one-third of people with TM will experience good to complete recovery, another third will experience fair recovery, and the remaining third will recover few or none of their lost functions. If no improvement occurs after three months, further significant improvement is unlikely.

For patients experiencing the lasting effects of TM, many previously effortless activities can become challenging. However, with the support of family and friends — as well as physical therapists and other medical professionals — there is no reason a person with TM cannot have a fulfilling and productive life.

This should have given you an idea about what Multiple Sclerosis and Transverse Myelitis is and how it affects those of us suffering with either of these conditions.