nerve pain

[mari1010]

I have been suffering from severe pain in lower back,buttock,hip and groin. I also have numbness in the lower abdomen,groin and upper inner thigh. I had an MRI that showed something so they called me back for another with contrast. The report said that it showed inflammation where the spinal cord opens in the L2 area. I have been refered to a neuro surg. What might they be looking for. What would be causing this?

[doctornee medical]

Hi

Entirely based on your post you appear to have symptoms below a particular level of spinal cord. This is called as transverse myelitis. “Transverse myelitis is a neurological disorder caused by inflammation across both sides of one level, or segment, of the spinal cord. The term myelitis refers to inflammation of the spinal cord; transverse simply describes the position of the inflammation, that is, across the width of the spinal cord. Attacks of inflammation can damage or destroy myelin, the fatty insulating substance that covers nerve cell fibers. This damage causes nervous system scars that interrupt communications between the nerves in the spinal cord and the rest of the body.

Symptoms of transverse myelitis include a loss of spinal cord function over several hours to several weeks. What usually begins as a sudden onset of lower back pain, muscle weakness, or abnormal sensations in the toes and feet can rapidly progress to more severe symptoms, including paralysis, urinary retention, and loss of bowel control. Although some patients recover from transverse myelitis with minor or no residual problems, others suffer permanent impairments that affect their ability to perform ordinary tasks of daily living. Most patients will have only one episode of transverse myelitis; a small percentage may have a recurrence.” Please refer: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/transversemyelitis/detail_transversemyelitis.htm


It is difficult to comment beyond this without complete medical history and examination. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted.