Is acute transverse myelitis curable?
Some individuals will have only one episode of transverse myelitis; other individuals may have a recurrence, especially if an underlying illness caused the disorder. There is no cure for transverse myelitis, but there are treatments to prevent or minimize permanent neurological deficits.
Is transverse myelitis lifelong?
Transverse Myelitis: The Basics Although some patients recover from TM with minor or no residual problems, others suffer permanent impairments.
How do you get rid of transverse myelitis?
Treatment
- Intravenous steroids. You’ll probably receive steroids through a vein in your arm over the course of several days.
- Plasma exchange therapy.
- Antiviral medication.
- Pain medication.
- Medications to treat other complications.
- Medications to prevent recurrent attacks of transverse myelitis.
Is myelitis acute or chronic?
Infectious myelitis Most viral myelitis is acute, but the retroviruses (such as HIV and HTLV) can cause chronic myelitis.
What happens if transverse myelitis is left untreated?
If left untreated, the disorder may continue to progress over time, so treatment should be aggressive, and should include high dose prednisone and cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan). If anti-phospholipid antibodies are present, anticoagulants (blood thinning medications) may also help.
What is the difference between the transverse myelitis and myelitis?
Transverse myelitis (TM) is a neurological disorder caused by inflammation across both sides of one level, or segment, of the spinal cord. The term myelitis refers to inflammation of the spinal cord; transverse simply describes the position of the inflammation, that is, across the entire width of the spinal cord.
Can transverse myelitis affect your heart?
Transverse myelitis (TM) is a rare inflammatory disease causing injury to the spinal cord with varying degrees of weakness, sensory alterations, and autonomic dysfunction (the part of the nervous system that controls involuntary activity, such as the heart, breathing, the digestive system, and reflexes).
Can transverse myelitis affect your eyesight?
Transverse myelitis associated with neuromyelitis optica usually affects both sides of your body. In addition to transverse myelitis, you may experience symptoms of damage to myelin of the optic nerve, including pain in the eye with movement and temporary vision loss.