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The symptoms of transverse myelitis depend on what section of the spinal cord is affected by the inflammation. The severity of the symptoms depends on how bad the inflammation is and how much damage it does.

The main symptoms of transverse myelitis are

• muscle weakness in the legs (and, less commonly, in the arms)
• change in sensation (unusual feelings) in the lower half of the body, pain, and
• problems with the bowel and bladder.

People might also experience

• fever
• headache
• tiredness
• muscle spasms (spasticity), and
• a general feeling of being unwell.

Commonly, the very first symptoms people with transverse myelitis experience are

• pain in their lower back and
• a sudden change in sensation in the legs (unusual feelings such as burning or tingling).

These unusual sensations are called paraesthesia.

Muscle weakness in the legs can progress to a complete loss of movement (paralysis) very quickly.

The unusual feelings (paraesthesia) that people experience can include numbness, pins and needles, and a heightened sensitivity to touch and temperature. The feel of clothing on the skin might cause pain (allodynia). People might experience extreme heat or cold, or lose the ability to tell the temperature of water or objects. Sometimes, a horizontal line or band can be drawn around the torso (the trunk of the body) or around the waist where the unusual sensations begin.

Bowel and bladder problems might include incontinence (a loss of control over bowel movements or passing urine) or needing to go to the toilet with increased urgency.

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Last updated 13 January 2011