Informational only — Not medical advice. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider.

MedBD
বাং
Community data Updated 4 weeks ago

Transverse myelitis

Transverse myelitis

brain-nerves-and-spinal-cord nervous
0 medicines 20 symptoms

Transverse myelitis is a rare condition affecting the nervous system. It happens when the spinal cord becomes inflamed, or swollen. This swelling damages the nerves and can leave behind permanent scars or lesions.

These scars or lesions break the communication between the nerves in the spinal cord and the rest of the body.

The word "transverse" refers to swelling that goes across the width of the spinal cord. Sometimes it's also used to describe swelling that affects only part of the width of the spinal cord.

Common Symptoms

pain difficulty sleeping mood swings exercise programme supervised by a physiotherapist muscle spasms muscle weakness in the legs, and sometimes the arms mobility problems unusual sensations and numbness bladder problems bowel problems sexual problems strength stiffness mobility aids, like a walking stick, or a wheelchair home adaptations like stair lifts or railings acid reflux (indigestion) stomach irritation worsening infection less interest in sex difficulty reaching orgasm

⚠️ This symptom list is for educational purposes. Having these symptoms does not mean you have this condition. See a doctor for proper diagnosis.

💊

Medicines Commonly Used

⚠️ These medicines are commonly used for confirmed diagnoses of this condition. This is NOT a recommendation or prescription. Treatment must be determined by your doctor.

No medicines have been linked to this condition yet.

Causes

Causes of transverse myelitis

There are several different causes. Sometimes a cause can’t be found, and this is called idiopathic transverse myelitis.

Autoimmune disease

Sometimes transverse myelitis is caused by an autoimmune reaction. In autoimmune diseases, the immune system mistakes the body’s own tissue as dangerous and attacks it. This causes swelling that results in damage to the myelin sheath. This includes:

  • MS-like swelling
  • neuromyelitis optica (NMO)
  • myelin oligodendrocyte antibody (MOG) associated myelitis
  • sarcoidosis
  • Sjogren’s disease
  • lupus

Viral infection

Sometimes transverse myelitis is caused indirectly by a viral infection like:

  • echovirus
  • enterovirus
  • Epstien-Barr
  • hepatitis A
  • herpes simplex
  • HIV
  • rubella
  • influenza (flu)
  • varicella zoster (the virus that causes chicken pox and shingles)

Most of the time it isn’t possible to identify the specific virus.

Bacterial infection

Bacterial infections like syphilis might also lead to transverse myelitis.

Cancer

Some cancers might trigger an unusual immune response. This can lead to transverse myelitis.

Diagnosis

If you notice symptoms of transverse myelitis, talk to your GP practice. If your GP suspects transverse myelitis, they will refer you to a neurologist (a specialist in nervous system conditions), who can arrange a specialist assessment.

You may need tests such as:

  • a neurological examination
  • an MRI scan
  • a lumbar puncture
  • blood tests

Your neurologist may also run other tests, such as a CT scan, to check for conditions that could be causing transverse myelitis.

Treatment

Sometimes transverse myelitis needs no treatment at all, since it tends to improve on its own. At other times, you may need treatment to manage your symptoms, bring down the swelling, or address whatever is causing it.

Other treatments for transverse myelitis

Depending on what's causing your transverse myelitis, your doctor may suggest other treatment options. Your neurologist will go through these choices with you and help decide what suits you best.