My TM happened 9 days after an epidural steroid injection. I haven't come
across anybody who had that in common. I wouldn't discount ANY cause,
including the mold, because in the beginning, every doctor I spoke to tried
to say there was no connection between the epidural and the TM. After all
the blood tests and spinal tap, and MRI's they all of a sudden said it was a
non-infectious inflammation of the nerves caused by the epidural. So when
it comes to diagnosis, TM is a very general term to describe what they
actually see.
I got this definition from a book: Transverse Myelitis is not a single
disease entity, but a pathological condition that may result from a variety
of traumatic and toxic processes, and sometimes cannot be attributed to any
apparent cause.
Unfortunately, the only thing we all have in common is the inflammation on
our spinal cords, although I have read here that some people did get TM
following a flu virus.
I'm feeling very down today. My toes are so numb that it hurts to walk with
shoes on. I just finished a second course of steroids which did absolutely
nothing. It's only been a little over three months since I was first
diagnosed but it feels much longer. I have been out of work all this time
since my job is physically demanding. I just learned that I will be taken
off payroll on April 21st if I do not return before that date. My husband
and I are beside ourselves. We are a two income family. I also happen to
love my job and work great hours. Oh well, thanks for letting me vent.
fellow tm sufferer
Karen