Whats acute transverse myelitis?
Acute transverse myelitis is a neurological disorder caused by inflammation of the spinal cord, which damages or destroys myelin, the fatty insulating substance that covers nerve cells fibers. This results in scarring, which interrupts communications between the nerves in the spinal cord and the rest of the body. Acute transverse myelitis usually begins with sudden back pain, followed by numbness and muscle weakness that start in the feet and move upward. Commonly, a beltlike tightness is felt around the chest or stomach at the level affected by the myelitis. People may have difficulty urinating. These effects may worsen over several hours or several days and may become severe, resulting in paralysis, loss of sensation, and loss of bladder and bowel control. The degree of disability depends on the location (level) of the inflammation in the spinal cord and the severity of the inflammation.
