Transverse myelitis/PN and surgery?

Posted By Jen Schiller on April 06, 1998 at 22:29:21:







I have been diagnosed with possible ATM, and PN as well as possible MS.  I have a small umbilical hernia (no pain). Consulted surgeon who advised against surgery because of my recent neurological Dx. and fact that I'm recovering from complete lower body paralysis.  I was also contemplating a "chin tuck" plastic surgery, which I believe would use local anesthesia as opposed to the general anesthesia that would be needed to correct the hernia.  My neurologist said 'NO!" to any kind of surgery, but seemed more concerned about possible infections.  From what I can infer, surgery, either the anesthesia itself, or a possible infection, can trigger reoccurence of the transverse myelitis and PN.  Does the medical literature support this?  How long past the initial TM attack (11/97) is safe? What factors in the anesthesia would trigger a relapse?  Or, is it just that anesthesia works on the nervous system and that alone can trigger a relapse?