Re: TM Literature

Ellen Hertz (eshertz(AT)access.digex.net)
Sat, 11 Oct 1997 22:13:23 -0400

I read your article with interest. I have lupus and hadn't
considered that there might be a connection between TM and lupus, thought
it was two separate problems. I would appreciate hearing from
anybody who has both or has information about lupus and
TM.
TIA
Ellen
dknoekuAt 03:43 PM 10/11/97 -0500, you wrote:
>I was the person who suggested the possibility of TM being fatal and was
>challenged.
>
>I reiterate my point.
>
>My experience so far is that the medical profession is not very good with
>this disease, at least in my case. My treatment with steroids was delayed
>12 days from onset while the doctors accused me of faking, and as a
>result, I am wheel chair bound.
>
>The literature supports this view. I have done quite a bit of research at
>major medical center libraries.
>
>Let me recommend one article in particular.
>
>
>
>"Lupus Transverse Myelopathy: better outcome with early recognition and
>aggressive high dose intravenous corticosteroid pulse treatment."
>
>Journal of Neurology Vol 242, May 1995
>
>These patients had Lupus, but TM can come from many diffluent sources.
>Mine, we think came from a tetanus shot. Other articles describe similar
>findings from other disease etiologies.
>
>In any event, the article which studied seven patients retrospectively,
>concluded that delay in diagnosis and treatment resulted in poor outcomes.
>
>Four patients died, and one became wheelchair bound. Two recovered
completely.
>
>These received the high dose steroid treatment in the first week. The wheel
>chair patient received it on the twelfth day (just like me). The patients
>who died did not.
>
>Other articles recommend MRI with contrast for diagnosis and indicate the
>diagnostic process and the markers for diagnosis.
>
>While this disease is comparatively rare, it is not in neurological
>circles. A competent (Stress competent) and caring neurologist will get the
>diagnoses and treatment right and give it's victims much of their life back.
>
>Every article I have read, going back as far as 1977, twenty years ago,
>supports this view.
>
>Many of the articles try to downplay their conclusions. My view of that is
>they are trying to protect colleagues from malpractice suits. Read the
>articles and not the summaries.
>
>--
>Edrie Goldstein
>
>
>