Neurology is a specialized branch of medicine that deals with disorders in the human nervous system. These disorder include the dysfunctions of one or more parts of both the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. The central nervous system is the primary nervous system which consists of the spinal cord and the brain.

An injury to the spinal cord may render a person physically or emotionally incapacitated, partially or completely. An inflammation or disease affecting the spinal cord, on the other hand, may also result to serious medical problem if untreated immediately such as an inflammation.

A spinal cord inflammation may result to a neurological syndrome called transverse myelitis. It is primarily attributed to the disruptions of the functions of the central nervous system linking the brain and the limbs. Specifically, the abnormal activation of the immune system against the spinal cord is thought to be the cause of the transverse myelitis. Though it is not as prevalent as other neurological disorders within a given population, it is not rare either. Both adult and children may be affected by this disease.

Symptoms manifest rather quickly within hours to several weeks after the inflammation sets in. Less than half of the cases develop maximally within 24 hours. Weakness in lower limbs of varying degrees in severity will develop in almost all patients. Sometimes the upper limbs may also develop some form of weakness but is generally dependent on the level of the inflammation in the spinal cord. Majority of the patients develop numbness or tingling in the legs, pain, decreased sensation below the affected area of the spinal cord and the loss of bowel control.

The symptoms, as demonstrated above, shall be an indication that you need to see immediately a qualified orthopedic specialist for treatment.