Transverse Myelitis is a neurological disorder causing inflammation and injury to the spinal cord. This inflammation can damage or destroy myelin, the fatty insulating substance that covers nerve cell fibers. This damage causes nervous system scars that interrupt communications between the nerves in the spinal cord and the rest of the body.
Symptoms of Transverse Myelitis include back pain, head and neck pain, pain or paralysis of the limbs, sensory problems, muscle weakness, and respiratory paralysis. Symptoms of transverse myelitis include a loss of spinal cord function over several hours to several weeks. What usually begins as a sudden onset of lower back pain, muscle weakness, or abnormal sensations in the toes and feet can rapidly progress to more severe symptoms, including paralysis, urinary retention, and loss of bowel control.
Diagnosing Transverse Myelitis can involve a number of diagnostic tests including an MRI, spinal tap and blood tests. A petitioner’s relevant medical history and subjective discussion of their signs and symptoms will also assist a provider in diagnosing Transverse Myelitis. Treatment for Transverse Myelitis can include taking pain medication and steroids to help reduce the pain and inflammation around the spinal cord, physical therapy and occupational therapy to help regain strength and mobility in the affected areas, and psychological treatment to help treat the anxiety and depression associated with the disease and resulting symptoms and limitations.
Though caused by a number of conditions, Transverse Myelitis can also result from the administration of vaccines. The most common vaccines leading to Transverse Myelitis include the hepatitis B vaccine, measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, the diphtheria-tetanus vaccine and the flu shot.
Although some patients recover from transverse myelitis with minor or no residual problems, others suffer permanent impairments that affect their ability to perform ordinary tasks of daily living. In cases of more severe cases of transverse myelitis, our firm works with different medical providers, life care planners, economists, psychologists, and other professionals to make sure all of your current and future medical and economic needs are accounted for and addressed in your claim.
If you or a loved one started experiencing Transverse Myelitis after receiving a vaccine, please contact our Vaccine Injury Attorneys.