People who have antibodies associated with neuromyelitis optica need ongoing medications, such as corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressants, to reduce their chances of more transverse myelitis attacks or developing optic neuritis.Īdditional therapies focus on long-term recovery and care: Medications to prevent recurrent attacks of transverse myelitis.Your doctor may prescribe other medications as needed to treat problems such as muscle spasticity, urinary or bowel dysfunction, depression, or other complications associated with transverse myelitis. Medications to treat other complications.Nerve pain may be treated with antidepressant drugs, such as sertraline (Zoloft), and anticonvulsant drugs, such as gabapentin (Neurontin, Gralise) or pregabalin (Lyrica). Medications that may lessen muscle pain include common pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve.) Chronic pain is a common complication of transverse myelitis. Some people who have a viral infection of the spinal cord may be treated with medications to treat the virus. It's not certain how this therapy helps people with transverse myelitis, but it may be that plasma exchange removes inflammatory antibodies. This involves removing the straw-colored fluid in which blood cells are suspended (plasma) and replacing the plasma with special fluids. People who don't respond to intravenous steroids may need plasma exchange therapy. Steroids help reduce the inflammation in your spinal column. You'll probably receive steroids through a vein in your arm over the course of several days. Several therapies target the acute signs and symptoms of transverse myelitis: Other blood tests can identify infections that may contribute to transverse myelitis, or rule out other causes of symptoms. People with a positive antibody test are at increased risk of experiencing multiple attacks of transverse myelitis and require treatment to prevent future attacks. Spinal fluid can also be tested for viral infections or certain cancers.īlood tests may include a test that checks for antibodies associated with neuromyelitis optica, a condition in which inflammation occurs both in your spinal cord and in the nerve in your eye. In some people with transverse myelitis, CSF may have abnormally high numbers of white blood cells or immune system proteins that indicate inflammation. Lumbar puncture (spinal tap) uses a needle to draw a small amount of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), the protective fluid that surrounds your spinal cord and brain. An MRI can show inflammation of the spinal cord and other potential causes of the symptoms, including abnormalities affecting the spinal cord or blood vessels. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create 3D images of soft tissues.
0 kommentar(er)
