Currently my husband ( 43 years old ) is diagnosed with TM ... although
suspicions remains as to MS.
His troubles began after a high speed traffic accident ( he was
rearended )
and shortly thereafter he suffered his first TM attack. His first attack
came in late November 96 - acute crisis ( cervical attack )- resulting
in numb hands, loss of equilibrium, upper body weakness, feet and legs
numbing.
MRI review showed 4 lesions - three of which were directly related to
injured/herniated
disks. ( c 3,4/c5,6 and thoracic 8,9 ) One lesion was very high up o
the
spinal cord - not apparently related to trauma.
A 5 day IV steriod treatment successfully ( near miraculously actually )
abated the crisis - he regained near full recovery with the exception of
his hands.
( Both remain numb )
Before the next TM " attack " - he underwent cervical surgery (
Feberuary 97)
to address the hernations in his neck. An MRI prior to surgery showed
tremedous healing of the lesion high up on the spinal cord / brain stem
area. The cervical surgery went well ... although to date there has been
no improvement to his hands. ( Note : since surgery - he no longer has
" electric shocks " when looking downward - placing his chin near his
chest. L'hermittes Syndrome )
His latest exacerbation/crisis (thoracic attack) happened end of March -
and this time it focused on his lower body. He began to drag his right
foot, numbing thighs and very numb feet. ( I suspect we need to get that
injured thracic disk fixed asap ...
arghhh ! )
Again, the 5 day IV corticosteriod treatment was very successful ..
except
this time he was left with a banding sensation across his waist .. and
of course
his hands remain numb from before.
I tried to make our long story short .. forgive me ... its just not that
simple !
I hope you will understand.
Did any of you sustain falls or trauma prior to your first TM attack ?
Are any of you taking MS medications - Avonex, Copaxon or oral myelin ?
Have you heard about the T cell vaccination research underway for MS ? (
may well have applications for TM patients)
It's an exciting prospect :
http://www.bcm.tmc.edu/neurol/research/ms/ms1.html
This is a journey we would never have chosen to take - however we are
grateful
to have access to fellow TM travellers - like yourselves via the NET !
Best regards,
Cathy