Myelitis vs MS
 

Well I posted a few weeks ago that my neurosurgeon thought I might have MS. I had optic nerve damage. Vision is corrected 20/40, still have flashes, peripheral field screen test was awful, and that was the optic test. My neuro/muscular symptoms are weakness of hands and feet, tingling, numbness, clumsiness, and the inability to walk. I had a seizure last Tuesday and spent 3 days in the hospital. They did a cat scan (no lesions, tumor, etc.),and an EEG. It showed some spikes. However at night my bp and heart rate would drop really low. I saw a new neuro. My other one skipped town. No lie. Not the surgeon, just the regular one. Soooo, where I stand right now: I had a drowsy EEG, waiting on results, blood tests to rule out vit deficiencies also waiting. If those are normal, I have an LP/myelogram lined up. Then nerve studies if necessary. I have RSD so that's only if needed. I can't have MRIs so we have to dx in different ways. The dr told me her suspicion is myelitis or MS due to severe foot drops (mainly right), neuro testing, and optical findings. My ? Is what's the difference? They seem similar. Will it get worse while waiting? I'm also trying to get a wheelchair. I can't get from my bed to bathroom without a fall. Is this common? I'm sorry to ask so many questions. I'm so confused. I figured my RSD meds would calm ms symptoms due to them being close diseases. Last but not least, they cold turkey pulled me off my antidepressant so that's made a hard week also. I'm just at a loss. Thanks for letting me vent. I'm a control freak, and rsd took that so this knocked me loopy too!

TK

Hi TK! Welcome to NT!:hug:

I don't know the answer to your question. I know that some MSers on here have had transverse myelitis in relation to their MS. Hopefully one of them will come along soon to answer your question. I know that myelitis happens in the spinal cord and MS can cause myelitis as can other conditions. That's the extent of my knowledge on it.

Please let us know how your testing goes and what the results are. Hang in there!:hug:

I don't really have any answers that will make you cheer, but I have been diagnosed with TM based on history/symptoms alone. While TM typically has a more or less sudden onset, my symptoms have been slow and gradually increasing over 10 years. I was initially diagnosed with peripheral neuroapthy, based on EMG/NCV tests and the fact that I was on flagyll for almost a year with colitis/crohn's and 4 surgeries. But then I started having new symptoms (vertigo, spasticity, the "hug," unrelenting pain) and made an appointment at an MS clinic. One thought is that the TM could have been triggered by the near-fatal inflammation I had in my colon that led to having it removed . . . totally removed. Life without a colon is tricky enough . . . but them TM . . .

As for treatments, so far it seems they are very similar if not the same litany of Rx meds on a try this/try that basis. Unfortunately for me all the meds I have tried so far mess us my Crohn's terribly, and if I lose that battle I lose the last vestiges of any quality of life I might cling to now. I take Imuran/azathioprene for both TM and Crohn's as it is supposed to depress the immune system to back off the inflammation . . . don't know if it is helping, but like any other meds, afraid if I quit I will flare terribly.

Arm yourself with as much knowledge as you can, ask questions, and keep pushing.

Transverse Myelitis

Transverse Myelitis Association

I found this while looking for something else and thought I would post it here for you . . .

http://www.my-ms.org/symptoms_pain.htm

"Transverse myelitis occurs when the immune system attacks a section of the spinal cord. Damage to the spinal cord is known as a myelopathy. The hallmark of a myelopathy is a sensory level. This means that there is a location on the patient below which the patient feels numb and above which sensation is normal. Sometimes this is only on one side of the body. It's also common to have weakness in the parts of the body below the level and normal strength above. In some cases of myelopathy, there are problems with controlling ones bowels and bladder.

There is a large differential for myelopathy and typically a MRI will sort out most of the causes. Once it's identified to be a transverse myelitis, then one has to determine if it's part of MS, neuromyelitis optica, idiopathic (meaning all by itself) or as a consequence of a systemic disease such as lupus. If the patient has sufficient symptoms to warrant therapy, high dose of IV steroids are typically given. If the transverse myelitis appears to be the first attack of MS, than standard MS disease modifying medications are started. If the transverse myelitis is over multiple spinal cord segments, than one needs to consider the diagnosis of neuromyelitis optica."