Re: transverse myletis

Posted By CCF Neurology MD on September 20, 1997 at 22:43:17:

In Reply to: transverse myletis posted by Darlene Maynard on September 19, 1997 at 14:37:56:







: I was diagnosed with transverse myletis age 9, I am now 45 and looking for information on the long term effects of this disease.  I have had a decline in my ability to walk since age 40 and wondering what to expect in the future. Thank you for any information you can provide, I will share it with my neurologist at my next appt. in a couple months.



    
Dear Darlene:
The term "transverse myelitis" is a mixed bag, and it was much more so 36 years ago when the sophisticated diagnostic tools we have today were not available. The commonest cause of transverse myelitis (today, and even 36 years ago) is inflammatory demyelination (loss of insulation of nerve fibers), at times as an allergic phenomenon following a viral infection. The majority of patients with transverse myelitis recover to a varying degree from their deficit over months, and never get a recurrent event. A minority tend to get recurrent neurological events, either again in the spinal cord, or elsewhere in the nervous system, in the next several years (usually in 10-15 years). This latter group are then felt to have multiple sclerosis.  If you have had no neurological event since the time you had the transverse myelitis, I feel that it is extremely unlikely that you will suffer any more from the same or similar problem. There is, however no guarantee against another unrelated neurological problem cropping up.
Now, since you have new symptoms in your legs, I strongly advice you to see neurologist for a fresh evaluation.
If you live near Cleveland, you are welcome to see any of the neurologists at the Cleveland Clinic. They will surely be able to help you.
The number for appointments is [phone], or [phone].
Good luck.