Transverse Myelitis

[Skinnyninja77]

Hey guys

Just wanted to ask that i have recently been told that i have transverse myelitis that was caused by a Virus.

They are hopeing that it's going to settle down in time but was also told that i may develop MS later on in life, Do you think that this caould hqave been the first attack.

I have had numbness, tingling, pins and needles down my left side that has ease but is still there after having them for the last 7 months do you think this will completely go away i do i now have this for the rest of my life.

Kind Regards
Skinnyninja77

[Skinnyninja77]

Sorry to hear that you are still experiencing symptoms of TM.

I'm only suffering on my left side as my right side fine no problems.
But i have noticed that i'm just getting over a cold and normally i would be fine with a cold and could carry on with my daily duties ie work. but this had taken me off work for a couple of days..

Felt like i had the flu but did have my flu jab so i know it's not that.
i also struggled with my exercise classes as well found it very frustrating with bodycombat of which i have done for the last 2 years.. is this the TM causing it?

I haven't been told as yet if i have lesions i was just told i had inflamation on my spinal cord. but hoping that i will find more out in April when i see the neuro's again .

Good luck also with your journey and thank you for you experience of TM it's always good to hear how other people cope with TM i have a few friends with MS and they seem to have different symptoms but i do understand that no two people are the same.

Take care and all the best.

[Sierra28]

I had my first attack of TM almost exactly a year ago. I'm waiting to get in to the neuro to see if what I'm experiencing now is just a flare up of the old or something new.

I feel like its something new, because before my symptoms (numbness and pain, urination issues) were in the bottom half of my body, though I did have paresthesias all over. Now it's my arms that are doing me in.

My left side is significantly worse than my right, which has always made me wonder if the TM was actually indeed MS rearing its ugly head. TM tends to affect both sides almost equally, while MS does not.

They never did find any lesions in all my MRIs, but I guess my symptoms and reflex tests were indicative enough for a diagnosis.

Hoping to get a round of MRIs on a stronger machine this time around, though I'm still paying off the thousands of dollars for the last ones, lol.

Good luck to you on your journey! Hope you find some relief soon!

[Skinnyninja77]

Hi Kelly97 thank you for replying

I did have have a spinal and brain MRI done which uncomfortably lasted an hour.
I was also told that TM can last up to 2 years as well my symptoms lasted for more than 2 - 3 weeks at it's worst however they have not completely gone away and have now started to get other sysmptoms pins and needles in my fingers and toes, tingling feeling down my leg etc.

I have contacted my nerologist well tried to who told me to go back to my doctor of which i have done that's how i found out that i had TM.
I have an appointment in April they can't get me in any sooner and they are talking about repeating an MRI then so i guess that unless it gets really bad i will have to wait until then.

Good luck with you and hope it goes ok for you .
Skinnyninja77

[anon07072023]

I wonder how they could tell that it was caused by a virus?  I'm guessing they did a spinal MRI and found lesions in your spine?  

I was initially diagnosed with transverse myelitis. I forget what the percentage is that convert to MS after initially being diagnosed with TM.  

I was told by my neuro that the symptoms of TM can last up to 2 yrs. And I'm guessing if the lesions never go away in your spine, then you can have the symptoms for as long as the lesions are still there.

One thing to think about is that your symptoms should not be progressively getting worse.  Typically with TM, you hit the highest (apex) of your symptoms within about 2-3 wks.  After that it will either stay the same or slowly start to go away.  If you notice new symptoms or progressing symptoms, you should definitely contact your neuro.  They can do new MRIs to see if you have new lesions.  Which would put you at a much greater risk of having or converting to MS.

Good luck,
Kelly