I had an initial attack of transverse myelitis which came on slowly over a few weeks in October 2011 (lesion c4-c7 no enhancing). LP normal. NMO-iGg normal x2. All other labs normal. It left me with severe difficulty walking as well as muscle fatigue in my arms and hands and both legs but primarily my right. Steroid treatment yielded only minor improvement overall with 1,000 mg solumedrol for 5 days. I was unable to do more than walk around my home and required a wheelchair for any distance.
Symptoms worsened quickly in February, but no new lesions so I was sent home and told it was stress. Then in June, another MRI for follow up and I was making progress and walking longer distances (warmer weather??). During the summer however, I felt great and walked so well I thought it was mostly gone. Then in October, the symptoms slowly progressed again. I have good days and bad days, but since October have had few good days an am ordering a wheelchair as I feel I am back to ground zero.
My question is, could it be a real relapse in the spinal cord, but not show up on MRI? Is it typical to have months where you are nearly normal and then periods of really awful symptoms like before with no new relapse activity? I heard spinal lesions are harder to detect than brain lesions, and I just wondered why my symptoms returned and stayed so suddenly.
Thanks in advance.
Jennie
I'm sorry you're having such a rough time... Whether you have MS or not, folks here understand. I hope you stick around.