What are the symptoms of syringomyelia?
Because the syrinx is putting pressure directly on nerves, the number one symptom associated with syringomyelia is pain. Many patients report severe pain in the neck, upper back, and shoulders. Doctors refer to this as the “cape effect” of syringomyelia – meaning pain in the area where a cape is draped over the shoulders. For patients with a syrinx located in the thoracic region of the spine, the pain may be in their chest, stomach, or lower on the back. In addition, many people with syringomyelia lose strength in their arms and legs and develop numbness in their hands and feet. Additional symptoms include trouble regulating body temperature, abnormally stiff muscles, and loss of bladder and bowel control.
