Transverse Myelitis Internet Club List: Transverse Myelitis

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Well here is an unusual situation. I am a 30 year old male physician, =
a radiation oncologist (I treat cancer patients with radiation), in =
Ontario, Canada. In fact I specialize in treating brain tumors. This =
past October I developed acute TM with left sided paralysis. Despite =
all my knowledge of the nervous system and brain tumors I had not read =
about this entity. Though I was partially paralyzed with my left side =
affected, I have made a good recovery. I will return to my patients in =
January. I too have many sensory symptoms which are largely feelings of =
cold (ice cubes) on the left side. My biggest problems are generalized =
weakness and muscle spasms.

The hallmark symptom of myelitis is persistent fatigue. This usually =
improves over time...though I understand it can take many months. Just =
talking about it makes me sleepy! I was initially ill in September with =
an unusual viral illness with severe headache and muscle aches. The =
myelitis progressed over the following few weeks until I become =
partially paralyzed (my left leg).

One of explanations of the etiology of this disease is an "autoimmune =
phenomena" ie the body's immune system attacks it's own self. The most =
plausible theory is the following: A viral infection stimulates an =
immune response by your body. Your body makes antibodies against =
specific antigens (proteins) specific (on the surface) to the invading =
virus. Normally your body destroyes the viral particles that become =
attached to the antibodies. However, in the case of ATM, the antigens =
on the viral particles are very similar to proteins in the nervous =
system. The antibodies made by the body do not discriminate between =
virus or self. Therefore, your immune system attacks both.

I appreciate the unusual nature of this illness and the fact that so =
many medical professionals know very little about it. It is important =
that those affilicted have a good neurologist and a rehab physician =
(physiatrist). As I have discovered, vigorous exercise does not =3D =
vigorous recovery. A very moderate exercise program geared to maintain =
muscle tone and cardiovascular fitness is best. I have found swimming =
and using a recumbent bicycle best for me though I would recommend an =
individual exercise/ physiotherapy program be devised for all those =
afflicted. Most people afflicted have good recovery over time. Of =
course there are extreme cases. A minority have a risk of developing MS =
however many of those patients are clearly identified at their initial =
presentation.

I hope this helpful to some of you. I'll try to monitor the chats from =
time to time.

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Well here is an unusual situation. I am = a 30 year=20 old male physician, a radiation oncologist (I treat cancer patients with = radiation), in Ontario, Canada. In fact I specialize in treating = brain=20 tumors. This past October I developed acute TM with left sided=20 paralysis. Despite all my knowledge of the nervous system and = brain tumors=20 I had not read about this entity. Though I was partially paralyzed = with my=20 left side affected, I have made a good recovery. I will = return to my=20 patients in January. I too have many sensory symptoms which are = largely=20 feelings of cold (ice cubes) on the left side. My biggest problems = are=20 generalized weakness and muscle spasms.

The hallmark symptom of myelitis is persistent = fatigue. =20 This usually improves over time...though I understand it can take many = months.=20 Just talking about it makes me sleepy! I was initially ill in = September=20 with an unusual viral illness with severe headache and muscle = aches. The=20 myelitis progressed over the following few weeks until I become = partially=20 paralyzed (my left leg).

One of explanations of the etiology of this disease = is an=20 "autoimmune phenomena" ie the body's immune system attacks = it's own=20 self. The most plausible theory is the following: A viral = infection=20 stimulates an immune response by your body. Your body makes = antibodies=20 against specific antigens (proteins) specific (on the surface) to the = invading=20 virus. Normally your body destroyes the viral particles that = become=20 attached to the antibodies. However, in the case of ATM, the = antigens on=20 the viral particles are very similar to proteins in the nervous = system. =20 The antibodies made by the body do not discriminate between virus or = self. =20 Therefore, your immune system attacks both.

I appreciate the unusual nature of this illness and = the fact=20 that so many medical professionals know very little about it. It = is=20 important that those affilicted have a good neurologist and a rehab = physician=20 (physiatrist). As I have discovered, vigorous exercise does not = =3D vigorous=20 recovery. A very moderate exercise program geared to maintain = muscle tone=20 and cardiovascular fitness is best. I have found swimming and = using a=20 recumbent bicycle best for me though I would recommend an individual = exercise/=20 physiotherapy program be devised for all those afflicted. Most = people=20 afflicted have good recovery over time. Of course there are = extreme=20 cases. A minority have a risk of developing MS however many of = those=20 patients are clearly identified at their initial = presentation.