Hey everyone... I'm the one that put this list together....and if anyone wants a good copy of it...I have it in a PDF file that is nice and easy to print out...
I had never thought about posting it here because I don't post on here much and I stay pretty busy with my Facebook group... ________________________________ From: Janice Nichols <jan...@centurytel.net> To: Roger & Terese Pratt <r.c.pr...@frontier.com>; 'Gary Thomas' <gbthomas8...@sbcglobal.net>; 'john snodgrass' <jcs...@yahoo.com>; 'transverse myelitis' <tmic-list@eskimo.com> Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 10:56 AM Subject: Re: [TMIC] 35 Things you probably don't know about TM Thanks, Gary. THis is great to be able to keep on hand. When people want to know about it, I am sure I forget a lot of this. I will keep it in my purse! Janice From: Roger & Terese Pratt Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 9:42 AM To: 'Gary Thomas' ; 'john snodgrass' ; 'transverse myelitis' Subject: RE: [TMIC] 35 Things you probably don't know about TM I just did select all, then copy, and pasted it into a word document. – Roger in Kennewick , WA ________________________________ From:Gary Thomas [mailto:gbthomas8...@sbcglobal.net] Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2012 7:59 PM To: john snodgrass; transverse myelitis Subject: Re: [TMIC] 35 Things you probably don't know about TM John. This is a good list. I would like to have it to copy without re-typing it . It came out (at least in my email) "scrunched" together. Is there a way to resend it in a better form. Thanks. Gary ----- Original Message ----- >From:john snodgrass >To:transverse myelitis >Sent:Tuesday, January 24, 2012 10:47 PM >Subject:[TMIC] 35 Things you probably don't know about TM > >seen this on facebook and didnt know if it was passed to this group or not. A >list to share with Dr's and family to help inform them about our condition. >john > > >35 Things you probably don't know about TM > >1. It is a cousin disorder to Multiple Sclerosis. http:// www.hopkinsmedicine.org/ neurology_neurosurgery/ specialty_areas/ project_restore/conditions/ > >2. Fairly rare disorder, only 2-5 people per million get it. > >3. Approx. 1400 new cases a year in the U.S. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/ >disorders/transversemyelitis/ detail_transversemyelitis.htm > >4. Roughly 33,000 people with TM in U.S. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/ >disorders/transversemyelitis/ detail_transversemyelitis.htm > >5. Transverse myelitis occurs in adults and children, in both genders, and in > all >races. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/ disorders/transversemyelitis/ >detail_transversemyelitis.htm > >6. Can be Acute (happening within hours) or Subacute (happening within days >or weeks) > >7. The inflammation that causes such extensive damage to nerve fibers of the >spinal cord may result from viral infections, abnormal immune reactions, or >insufficient blood flow through the blood vessels located in the spinal cord. >Transverse myelitis also may occur as a complication of syphilis, measles, >Lyme disease, and some vaccinations, including those for chickenpox and >rabies. > >8. Can be Idiopathic (no known cause) > >9. Typically a one time occurrence but there are some that have recurrent TM. > >10. 10% or better possibility of developing Multiple Sclerosis but the >possibility is fairly low if there is a normal brain MRI at TM >onset...http:// www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/ 18080852 > >11.Most symptoms of TM are identical to MS > >12.Prevailing difference between TM and MS is that lesions are on spinal >nerve in >TM and on Brain in MS. > >13.Transverse myelitis is a neurological disorder caused by inflammation >across >both sides of one level, or segment, of the spinal cord. This damage causes >nervous system scars that interrupt communications between the nerves in >the spinal cord and the rest of the body. > >14. The inflammation and lesion created, is caused by the bodies own immune >system attacking the myelin coating of the spinal nerve. > >15.The segment of the spinal cord at which the damage occurs determines which >parts of the body are affected. Nerves in the cervical (neck) region control >signals to the neck, arms, hands, and muscles of breathing (the diaphragm). >Nerves in the thoracic (upper back) region relay signals to the torso and >some >parts of the arms. Nerves at the lumbar (mid-back) level control signals to >the >hips and legs. Finally, sacral nerves, located within the lowest segment of >the >spinal cord, relay signals to the groin, toes, and some parts of the legs. >Damage >at one segment will affect function at that segment and segments below it. In >patients with transverse myelitis, demyelination usually occurs at the >thoracic >level, causing problems with leg movement and bowel and bladder control, >which require signals from the lower segments of the spinal cord. >http://www.ninds.nih.gov/ disorders/transversemyelitis/ >detail_transversemyelitis.htm > >16.About one-third of people affected with transverse myelitis experience >good or >full recovery from their symptoms; they regain the ability to walk normally >and experience minimal urinary or bowel effects and paresthesias. Another >one-third show only fair recovery and are left with significant deficits such > as >spastic gait, sensory dysfunction, and prominent urinary urgency or >incontinence. The remaining one-third show no recovery at all, remaining >wheelchair-bound or bedridden with marked dependence on others for basic >functions of daily living. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/ >disorders/transversemyelitis/ detail_transversemyelitis.htm > >17. Four classic features of transverse myelitis emerge: (1) weakness of the >legs >and arms, (2) pain, (3) sensory alteration, and (4) bowel and bladder >dysfunction. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/ disorders/transversemyelitis/ >detail_transversemyelitis.htm > >18. Pain is the primary presenting symptom of transverse myelitis in >approximately one-third to one-half of all patients. The pain may be localized >in the lower back or may consist of sharp, shooting sensations that radiate >down the legs or arms or around the torso. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/ >disorders/transversemyelitis/ detail_transversemyelitis.htm > >19. Patients who experience sensory disturbances often use terms such as >numbness, tingling, coldness, or burning to describe their symptoms. > >20. Up to 80 percent of those with transverse myelitis report areas of >heightened >sensitivity to touch, such that clothing or a light touch with a finger causes >significant discomfort or pain (a condition called allodynia). > >21.Many also experience heightened sensitivity to changes in temperature or to >extreme heat or cold. > >22.Bladder and bowel problems may involve increased frequency of the urge to >urinate or have bowel movements, incontinence, difficulty voiding, the >sensation of incomplete evacuation, and constipation. > >23. Body temperature of those with TM is typically lower than a normal person. > >24. Most people with TM have poor circulation even if paralysis is limited. > >25.It is often difficult to distinguish between a patient with an idiopathic >form of >transverse myelitis and one who has an underlying condition, therefore the >diagnosis is often delayed, sometimes for months or years. > >26.Depression is extremely prevalent in patients with TM. http:// >www.brainandspine.org.uk/ information/publications/ brain_and_spine_booklets/ >transverse_myelitis/ longer_term.html > >27.Diagnosed with a neurological examination, MRI of the spinal cord and >brain, >a spinal tap, evoked potentials, blood tests to rule out potential conditions > that >mimic TM (vitamin B12 deficiency, lyme's disease) and causes such as viruses >and autoimmune diseases. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/ >disorders/transversemyelitis/ detail_transversemyelitis.htm > >28. Physicians also may perform myelography, which involves injecting a dye >into >the sac that surrounds the spinal cord. The patient is then tilted up and down >to let the dye flow around and outline the spinal cord while X-rays are taken. >http://www.ninds.nih.gov/ disorders/transversemyelitis/ >detail_transversemyelitis.htm > >29.No effective cure currently exists for people with transverse myelitis > >30.Treatments are designed to manage and alleviate symptoms and largely >depend upon the severity of neurological involvement. > >31. Stem Cell research is currently the only hope for a cure for TM. > >32.Transverse Myelitis is sometimes a “But you don't look sick” condition. > >33. Ringing in the ears (Tinnitus) is very common in neurological >disorders..ie:MS, TM, Migraines.... http:// uprightdoctor.wordpress.com/ >2011/01/16/ chiari-malformations-and-crania l-nerves/ > >34. Extreme fatigue is a common occurrence in those with Transverse >Myelitis. http:// www.brainandspine.org.uk/ information/publications/ >brain_and_spine_booklets/ transverse_myelitis/ longer_term.html > >35. Transverse Myelitis can possibly affect only one side of the body if the >TM has been brought on by an onset of Multiple Sclerosis. http:// >rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/ Condition/7796/QnA/22164/ >Transverse_myelitis.aspx
