by Jerry Bruen
Published 2 years ago
Updated 2 years ago
Steroids help reduce the inflammation in your spinal column. Plasma exchange therapy. People who don't respond to intravenous steroids may need plasma exchange therapy. This involves removing the straw-colored fluid in which blood cells are suspended (plasma) and replacing the plasma with special fluids.Jan 19, 2022
Medication
Short-term treatment of transverse myelitis. The first-line treatment for transverse myelitis is IV (intravenous) glucocorticoids. If your healthcare provider suspects TM, they’ll start high-dose IV glucocorticoids as soon as possible. Glucocorticoids are a class of corticosteroids, which are a class of steroid hormones. Glucocorticoids are powerful medicines that fight inflammation and …
Procedures
Some people who get transverse myelitis are left with permanent physical disabilities, such as muscle stiffness, loss of bowel or bladder function, muscle weakness, or even paralysis. If you have any of these impairments, physical therapy will likely be …
Therapy
Treatments Intravenous (IV — into the vein) corticosteroids such as methylprednisolone or dexamethasone may be given to help... Plasma exchange (PLEX) may be ordered if no improvement occurs with corticosteroid therapy. Plasma exchange involves...
Nutrition
Jan 19, 2022 · Treatment for transverse myelitis includes medications and rehabilitative therapy. Most people with transverse myelitis recover at least partially. Those with severe attacks sometimes are left with major disabilities.
See more
Nonmedical Treatments for Transverse Myelitis. Your doctor might also suggest: Rest: You might need to stay in bed while you fight the illness. Physical therapy: You’ll learn:
Can you recover from transverse myelitis?
No effective cure currently exists for transverse myelitis, although many people recover from it. Treatments focus on relieving the inflammation that causes the symptoms. Some people might need to be hospitalized at first if the symptoms are severe enough.
What triggers transverse myelitis?
Viral, bacterial and fungal infections affecting the spinal cord may cause transverse myelitis. In most cases, the inflammatory disorder appears after recovery from the infection. Viruses associated with transverse myelitis are: Herpes viruses, including the one that causes shingles and chickenpox (zoster)Jan 19, 2022
Is transverse myelitis serious?
Most people recover from transverse myelitis (TM) within three months after the condition happens. For some, healing may take months to years. While some people recover from the inflammation with little or no lasting complications, others recover with moderate or severe disabilities.Apr 12, 2022
Is transverse myelitis life long?
Nerve damage can cause problems including weakness in the legs, muscle spasms, spasticity, difficulty walking, numbness and tingling, balance and strength difficulties. Recovery from transverse myelitis usually begins within a few weeks of the onset of symptoms and can continue for up to two years, or sometimes longer.
What kind of doctor treats transverse myelitis?
A team of neurologists, rehabilitation specialists, neuropsychiatrists, neurosurgeons, neuro-ophthalmologists, therapists and other scientists facilitate the evaluation and management of patients affected by transverse myelitis.
Can you walk with transverse myelitis?
About a third of people with transverse myelitis get better and don't have much permanent damage. They can walk normally and have only small lingering issues. Another third have problems walking. They also may have muscle spasms, a less sensitive sense of touch, or trouble controlling their bladder.Apr 14, 2022
Can myelitis be cured?
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.
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).
What are signs and symptoms of transverse myelitis?
There are four classic symptoms of transverse myelitis:
Physiotherapy treatment is best provided by specialised neurological physiotherapists that can help with the common symptoms of transverse myelitis. These include: Muscle Weakness - It is essential to keep exercising. Physiotherapy treatment will increase muscle strength by improving walking, running or swimming.
