It is believed that trauma can cause a Tarlov cyst to become symptomatic. The reality is that everyone does not have a full spine enhanced MRI prior to having a traumatic event. Therefore, it is not known if the Tarlov cyst existed prior to the trauma. I had no back issues prior to my traumatic impact injury in 2006, and despite an "abnormality" shown on the first CT scan, x-ray and MRI at the area of T-5, all radiologists referred to the Tarlov cyst at that location as "incidental". When it was addressed surgically in 2010, the pain and spasms immediately abated and I was able to quit all medications and return to work.