Transverse myelitis is an illness that inflames the spinal cord. It can start quickly or take a few weeks to develop. The signs are often very serious, making it hard for people to live normally. It’s key for both patients and doctors to know how to spot and treat this disease.
People with transverse myelitis might feel strange sensations like numbness or tingling. They could also feel pain in the same area. Things like bowel problems, issues controlling bladder, muscle weakness, and trouble moving might show up. Even sexual problems are not unheard of. These all happen at or below where the spinal cord is hurt.
The root causes of transverse myelitis can be different. It could be from an unknown source, infections, autoimmune diseases, or certain nervous system problems. Viruses, such as herpes, and bacteria can start the inflammation. Diseases like multiple sclerosis or lupus might also play a part.
To diagnose this disease, doctors will look deep into your nervous system. They’ll also dig into your medical past and run lots of tests. You might need an MRI or have your spinal fluid checked. All this helps them figure out if your spinal cord is inflamed and how badly.
Until recently, treatments for transverse myelitis just aimed at easing the symptoms and addressing the cause. Now, stem cell therapy offers hope by fixing the spinal cord damage. Special stem cells, called MSC+ mesenchymal cells, can turn into the nerve cells we need. They also release substances that can fix the protective cover of our nerves, which can get damaged by this disease.
Key Takeaways:
- Transverse myelitis is a brain issue that causes spinal cord inflammation.
- Its symptoms can be odd feelings, pain, and many other troubles.
- The disease might come from an infection or an immune reaction.
- To find out if you have it, doctors will check your nerves and do tests like an MRI.
- Stem cell treatments are starting to show good results in fixing spinal cord issues from this disease.
Symptoms of Transverse Myelitis
Transverse myelitis causes symptoms below the spinal cord’s damaged area. These can include abnormal sensations, pain, bowel, and bladder problems, plus muscle and movement issues. Let’s look at each symptom more closely.
Abnormal Sensations
One key symptom is feeling weird sensations. This might be numbness, pricking, burning, or being too sensitive to touch or temperature.
Pain
Pain is a big deal with this condition. It can start with lower back pain and spread down the arms, legs, or torso. How bad and where it hurts can change from person to person.
Bowel and Bladder Issues
Then there are the bowel and bladder problems. This can show up as constipation, not being able to pee, or not being able to stop peeing. Such issues really disrupt daily life and need special care.
Muscle and Movement Issues
Muscle weakness, wobbly balance, troubles walking, and muscle spasms are common. They really mess with how your body moves and works together.
Sexual Dysfunction
Sexual trouble also happens. It includes problems with getting in the mood, feeling pleasure, or working right. This can be tough on happiness and relationships.
Other Symptoms
Finally, you might lose your appetite, get headaches, or have lung issues. It’s wise to talk to a doctor and get the right care for these symptoms. This is key to feeling better.
If you notice these symptoms, don’t wait. Get medical help right away for the best chance of a full recovery. Quick treatment is essential for a better outcome.
| Symptom | Description |
|---|---|
| Abnormal Sensations | Numbness, pricking, burning, sensitivity to touch or temperature |
| Pain | Localized lower back pain, radiating pain down arms, legs, or torso |
| Bowel and Bladder Issues | Constipation, urinary retention, incontinence |
| Muscle and Movement Issues | Weakness, loss of balance, difficulty walking, muscle spasms |
| Sexual Dysfunction | Difficulties with sexual arousal, sensation, and function |
Causes of Transverse Myelitis
Transverse myelitis happens when the spinal cord inflames. This can happen from different things. For example, infections are a big cause. This includes viruses like herpes, varicella-zoster, and hepatitis B. Infections from fungi and parasites can also lead to it. Tick-borne illnesses, such as Lyme disease, are linked too.
Autoimmune diseases are also to blame. Illnesses like multiple sclerosis and lupus can cause inflammation in the spinal cord. This results in transverse myelitis. Another autoimmune condition, neuromyelitis optica, is linked to it as well.
Besides infections and autoimmune issues, other things can inflame the spinal cord. Diseases of the central nervous system, including certain vascular issues, also play a part. Recognizing what causes someone’s transverse myelitis is key to treating it right.
Possible Causes of Transverse Myelitis
| Cause | Description |
|---|---|
| Infections | Includes viral, fungal, parasitic, and tick-borne diseases |
| Autoimmune Diseases | Conditions like multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus |
| Central Nervous System Diseases | Including vascular dysfunctions and other inflammatory disorders |
Finding out the cause of transverse myelitis helps doctors treat it better. The search for causes continues. The goal is to improve how we help those with this condition.
Stem Cell Therapy for Transverse Myelitis
Current treatments for transverse myelitis help manage symptoms and lower inflammation. But, there’s new hope with stem cell therapy. This method uses MSC+ stem cells and shows promise as a game changer.
MSC+ stem cells can fix spinal cord damage and bring back lost function. They turn into healthy motor neurons and release growth factors. This helps in fixing the injured myelin sheath. Stem cell therapy not only tries to lessen relapses but also aims to reduce inflammation and boost the life quality of patients.
The Regeneration Center is a top name in regenerative medicine. They lead the way in using state-of-the-art methods to treat transverse myelitis. With stem cell therapy, they are working to heal the spinal cord and enhance outcomes for patients.