Transverse Myelitis - yeah... WHAT?!

You sound like you should be on the show "Mystery Diagnosis"! Actually, I just looked this up. I don't have it and don't know anyone who does but, from what I just read, transverse myelitis is a "blanket" term with many different potential causes. It means 'inflammation of the spinal cord' and that can be caused by many different diseases, multiple sclerosis included. Here's the link where I read this: http://www.myelitis.org/tm.htm You should scroll down to "Table: Diseases Associated with Transverse Myelitis" where they list many potential causes of transverse myelitis. I may be wrong but this is how I perceived what I read. I don't understand why you weren't tested for multiple sclerosis. I believe X-rays or CT scans will show whether or not a person has it. I had a scare with that myself not long ago because of weakness in my extremities, especially my right arm but that turned out to be caused by a herniated disc in my neck... at least the right arm problem. The rest is most likely from my fibromyalgia since I've been tested for just about everything under the sun. Anyway, I'm so sorry to hear that you have this but we all just do what we have to do, right? I've learned to work around my fibromyalgia symptoms as I'm sure you've learned, or are learning, to work around your symptoms (which sound very much like mine, by the way). Here's to the power of female determination!

I'm glad that a doctor was finally able to give you a proper diagnosis. I know how frustrating it can be when you keep getting tested and no one knows what it is. I have a friend who has been going through all kinds of tests for about 3 years because they say she also has the symptoms of MS but yet they can't definitely say that's what it is. I'm going to mention this Transverse Myelitis to her and see if she'll talk to her doctor about it.

Of course you know, you have given me something that I will have to research. I am not familiar with it, but I hope it is a better diagnosis than MS, which is a rough diagnosis. I am glad that you have a diagnosis so that you can begin some kind of treatment.

koalaths I can really sympathize as I have a rash on my leg that flakes off then bleeds, mydoctor does not know what it is so sent me to a dermatologist who said severe dermatitis whic h is just a catch phrase for irritation of the skin, the derma so now I am waiting for a referral to a wound specialist. and I am so tired of being shunted fromn one person to another and no diagnosis and no real treatment and I am a diabetic so I am scared. I want to know the name of the stuff and have it cured. this has been going since midsummer now its January. I hope that now you can be really helped and now you do have a name for it.good luck and God bless

I know nothing about Transverse Myelitis except that it is similar to MS, which I DO have. Is the disease curable, or can you only treat the symptoms?

Well, I certainly don't consider myself to be an idiot when it comes to medicine and medical terminology, but this one is a first for me. That said, I know how much relief that you have to be feeling for having a name to go with the symptoms that you have been experiencing. My husband has been dealing with chronic pain for the last year and we still haven't gotten a diagnosis for it. This is the hardest part in my opinion.

I don't have it, but I know why you'd be thrilled. When something is wrong, I'm sure all you would want would be a name, and a diagnoses. It's important to have a name for the condition, so that the one who has it knows how it will best be treated.

thisis one I havent heard of must be new or they just named it. I hope all works out for you and they can get rid of it for you or cal it down hugsssssssssssssssssss

Ah, I've just found this via your profile, and it seems that maybe it wasn't the vitamin D deficiency causing all your symptoms after all. (Please visit your vit D discussion first if you don't know what I'm talking about, lol!) I'm also having a load of weird symptoms and my vit D levels are going to be tested this week. I'm a real mystery to my GPs, and they are mainly just shrugging when the see me now. But then the latest one suggested caeliac disease and/or vit D deficiency. It's so horrible having these symptoms that change your life in a major way, but nobody's able to tell you what's wrong. I'm glad you've managed to find out what's wrong with you. It's great to be able to move on!

I looked this up on the Internet and it sounded to me like this is a set of symptoms which can be caused by several different illnesses or injuries to the spine. So do they know what has caused this in your case?

Hi Koalatbs. Finally! I remember more than a couple of years ago when I responded (under my old account) to your first discussion about your 50% MS diagnosis. I even asked a couple of friends here who have MS to respond to your posts to contribute ideas. I am glad that at last the diagnosis re Transverse Myelitis is definite. Now you can deal and cope with it better knowing what's causing you all those symptoms. I wish you all the strength and courage to face what life brings. Keep your faith. Enjoy life. Indeed, life is not meant to be perfect or easy...My husband is now on his 11th year of having MS and he is coping very well. Our family's love gives him all the strength---for him life is still beautiful. God bless.