transverse myelitis or something else?

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Hello.

I am a 33 year female in excellent health.  This September, 3 weeks after the birth of my third child I developed tingling in both my legs and feet, low back pain and a stabbing pain between my shoulder blades.  No weakness, bowel/bladder dysfunction.  A neurologist did a full exam, normal. A MRI of brain and entire spine with & w/o contrast were done, completely normal.  Labs for everything including vitamin deficiency and SLE were done, all normal.  Dx was mild transverse myelitis (although it did not appear on MRI).  Full recovery was expected.  Within about 4 weeks all symptoms disappeared.  Then in the end of November exact symptoms recurred.  Saw neurologists again, still no weakness, bladder/bowel dysfunction.  Full recovery expected, the symptoms were gone within 2 weeks.  My problem is that in the end of December the symptoms again returned.  Tnis time after a week of tingling in legs and feet, low back pain and stabbing pains inbetween shoulder blades, a feeling of a lump in my throat has developed (like a pill swallowed wrong)and a slight funny feeling in the left side of my face (like something is pressing on that nerve at the top of your jaw by your ear).  The tingling in my legs and back pain have lessened considerably.
Neurologist not too concerned, as these are only sensory symtoms.

Do you think that it is possibly TM?

What else could it be?  

What questions or tests should I be asking my neurologist about?

I have 3 young children and I'm so worried that there is something terribly wrong with me.

Thanks for your help.

Colleen

[t_anunson]

I had post partum problems like this 2 weeks after daughter`s birth, I started having MS like symptoms. The tests I`ve had so far are normal. I have a slight numbness on my left heel that won`t go away and is worse with heat. What did the doctors tell you? Any new symptoms?

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Thanks for your insight.  I don't know if the neurologist who responded to my post will see this, but my neurologist is an associate professor of neurology at the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor.  It is my understanding that the U of M neurology department is pretty good.  If anyone knows anything to the contrary or has additional advice, please let me know.

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT]

Transverse myelitis usually has more serious clinical manifestations such as pronounced weakness and sensory loss that corresponds to a spinal cord level.  The MRI of the spine typically shows features of demyelination (nerve damage) and it takes more than 4 weeks to return to normal clinically.  Given the mild nature and distribution of your symptoms, the normal MRI, and  the relatively fast recovery without treatment, it's quite unlikely that this was transverse myelitis.  Of course, keep in mind I have not reviewed your clinical history in detail nor have I personally examined you and reviewed your studies, precluding an accurate medical opinion.

Could represent a peripheral neuropathy (abnormality of the nerves going out to your limbs) which can be evaluated with an EMG during the time of your symptoms.  There are cases of transient and reversible peripheral neuropathies such as Guillain Barre syndrome, which may or may not be a possibility in yout case.  Consider a second opinion by a neurologist at a major academic center near you.  An EMG may also be helpful to further characterize the integrity of your nerve and muscles.  Good luck.