Inflammation can cause problems for a number of different parts of your body, including your spinal cord. When the spinal cord itself becomes inflamed, this condition is known as transverse myelitis. As you might imagine, the condition can be both painful and debilitating, but connecting with a spine specialist at the first sign of symptoms can really help. Below, we take a closer look at the causes, symptoms and treatment options for transverse myelitis.
Causes And Symptoms Of Transverse Myelitis
As we mentioned in the introduction, transverse myelitis involves inflammation of the spinal cord, which is that part of the body that sends impulses from the brain to the nerves in your body. And while the exact cause of transverse myelitis is unknown, a number of different conditions are believed to contribute to its onset, including:
- Immune System Disorders – An immune system disorder like multiple sclerosis is believed to contribute to transverse myelitis because of the way immune system issues lead to attacks on our own healthy tissue. If the immune system ends up mistakenly triggering a response to attack the protective coating of myelin on the spinal cord, inflammation can result.
- Cancer – Cancer can affect our bodies in a number of ways, and if our bodies try to attack these cancer cells in such a way that it contributes to inflammation of the spinal cord, symptoms of transverse myelitis may develop.
- Viruses – A viral infection like herpes, influenza or hepatitis B can all lead to a post-infectious response in the body that contributes to spinal cord inflammation.
- Bacterial Infection – Similarly, a bacterial infection like syphilis, tetanus, middle-ear infections and bacterial pneumonia have also been linked to spinal cord inflammation and transverse myelitis.
Other potential causes include parasites, fungal infections and inflammatory disorders that affect the spinal cord, like scleroderma or Bechet’s syndrome.
Symptoms of transverse myelitis can develop over the course of a number of weeks, or they can set in much quicker, with some patients developing symptoms over the course of days or hours. Symptoms will vary in severity and may be dependent on the specific area of the spinal cord affected by the inflammation. The most common symptoms include spinal discomfort, weakness in your arms or legs, sensory changes like a burning, tingling or numbing sensation, muscle spasms and bowel/bladder dysfunction.
Diagnosing And Treating Transverse Myelitis
If you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms, set up an appointment with a spine specialist like Dr. Sinicropi. He’ll begin by talking with you about your medical history, your symptoms and what actions cause discomfort or relief. From there, he’ll conduct a physical exam of the spine before ordering additional tests. The most common diagnostic tests for transverse myelitis are MRI, blood tests or a lumbar puncture and spinal fluid analysis.
Treatment will be based on the underlying cause of the inflammation. For example, medications or intravenous corticosteroid drugs may be administered to address viral or bacterial issues, and to help alleviate symptoms like swelling and inflammation. Plasma exchange therapy or intravenous immunoglobulin may also work to calm the immune system and reduce symptoms. Pain medications and muscle relaxers may be administered to calm symptoms while other treatments run their course. In rare instances where inflammation is leading to breathing issues, the patient may need to be put on a respirator while they are recovering during treatment.
Long-term immunotherapy and physical therapy to treat muscle weakness or related physical symptoms may be ordered for individuals who are dealing with an underlying immune system issue that could return in the future.
Transverse myelitis is a rare but serious condition, so if you’re dealing with worsening spinal symptoms and have a history of immune system issues, reach out to a specialist today. For help in the greater Twin Cities area, contact Dr. Sinicropi at (651) 430-3800.
