Transverse myelitis is an inflammation of the spinal cord, which often targets insulating material covering nerve cell fibers (myelin). Transverse myelitis may result in injury across the spinal cord, affecting sensation below the injury.
The disrupted transmission of nerve signals due to transverse myelitis can cause pain or other sensory problems, weakness or paralysis of muscles, or bladder and bowel dysfunction.
Several factors can cause transverse myelitis, including infections and immune system disorders that attack the body's tissues. It may also occur because of other myelin disorders, such as multiple sclerosis.
Causes-The exact reason for transverse myelitis is not known. In some cases, no cause can be found for transverse myelitis. However, there are a number of conditions that appear to cause the disorder, including:
Viral and other infections of the respiratory tract or the gastrointestinal tract have been implicated in transverse myelitis. In most cases, the inflammatory disorder appears after recovery from the viral infection.
Viruses that can infect the spinal cord directly are herpes viruses, including the one that causes shingles and chickenpox (zoster) and West Nile virus. Other viruses may trigger an autoimmune reaction without directly infecting the spinal cord.
Rarely, parasites may infect the spinal cord, and certain bacteria such as Lyme disease can cause a painful inflammation of nerve roots of the spinal cord.
Multiple sclerosis is a disorder in which the immune system destroys myelin surrounding nerves in your spinal cord and brain. Transverse myelitis can be the first sign of multiple sclerosis or represent a relapse. Transverse myelitis as a sign of multiple sclerosis usually manifests on only one side of your body
Neuromyelitis optica (Devic's disease) is a condition that causes inflammation and loss of myelin around the spinal cord and the nerve in your eye that transmits information to your brain. Transverse myelitis associated with neuromyelitis optica usually affects both sides of your body.
You may experience symptoms of damage to myelin of the optic nerve, including pain in the eye with movement and temporary vision loss, at the same time or other times as transverse myelitis symptoms. However, some people with neuromyelitis optica don't experience eye-related problems and might have only recurrent episodes of transverse myelitis.
Autoimmune disorders affecting other body systems likely contribute to transverse myelitis in some people. These disorders include lupus, which can affect multiple body systems, and Sjogren's syndrome, which causes severe dryness of the mouth and eyes, as well as other symptoms.
Transverse myelitis associated with an autoimmune disorder may indicate coexisting neuromyelitis optica, which occurs more frequently in people with other autoimmune diseases than it does in people who don't have autoimmune disease.
Vaccinations for infectious diseases — including hepatitis B, measles-mumps-rubella, and diphtheria-tetanus vaccines — have occasionally been implicated as a possible trigger.
Symptoms--Typical signs and symptoms include:
Pain. Pain associated with transverse myelitis often begins suddenly in your neck or back, depending on the part of your spinal cord that's affected. Sharp, shooting sensations may also radiate down your legs or arms or around your abdomen.
Abnormal sensations. Some people with transverse myelitis report sensations of numbness, tingling, coldness or burning. Some are especially sensitive to the light touch of clothing or to extreme heat or cold. You may feel as if something is tightly wrapping the skin of your chest, abdomen or legs.
Weakness in your arms or legs. Some people with mild weakness notice that they're stumbling or dragging one foot or that their legs feel heavy as they move. Others may develop paralysis.
Bladder and bowel problems. These problems may include an increased urinary urge, urinary incontinence, difficulty urinating and constipation
HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES
ACONITUM NAPELLUS 30- Fever. Violent pain along the spine. Fear of death. It should be used in the acute or first stage
ALUMINIA SILICATE 30- Congestion of the brain and cord and spinal nerves with marked burning and stinging pain
ARNICA MONTANA 30- Inflammation of the spinal cord due to fall or blow on the spine.Pain worse on touch
ARSENICUM ALB 30- Burning pain in the spine. Restlessness with weakness , cramps in the calves .Involuntary urination . Loss of sensibility except to cold. Pain mostly in the hands and feet.
BELLADONNA 30-Violent pain along the spine. Tetanic spasms. Fever, when only the upper part of the spine is involved.
BRYONIA ALB. 30-Stitching tearing pain in the spinal cord worse by motion. Stiffness and numbness of the muscles
CICUTA VIROSA 30-Violent convulsions. Shrieking cries.
CUPRUM ARS 30- Pain in the lumbar region. Cramps in the calves of legs, relieved by pressure. Numbness of legs. Vertigo
HYPERICUM PERF 12X- Inflammation of the spinal cord, when the nerves have been injured
OXALIC ACID 30-Lower limbs stiff and pain
PLUMBUM IODIDE 30- Chronic spinal paralysis. Spinal cord is thickened. Cramps in the calves. Indigestion
PLUMBUM MET 30-Much pain in the spine, pyrexia, convulsions
SECALE COR 30- Anus paralysed. Remains open. Stools pass without notice . Pain in the sexual organs . Restlessness, sleeplessness and trembling
STRYCHNINUM PHOS 3X- Great rigidity of lower limbs . Cramps and spasms in the limbs . Anemia of the spinal cord