Vaccine Injury Overview: Transverse Myelitis – Signs, Symptoms, Risks and Treatment

Vaccine Injury Overview: Transverse Myelitis – Signs, Symptoms, Risks and Treatment

Transverse myelitis is a neurological disorder that affects the spinal cord, often resulting in loss of sensation below the location of the injury. While not specifically identified on the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program’s Vaccine Injury Table, transverse myelitis has been linked to a number of different vaccinations. These include:

• Diptheria-tetanus vaccines (such as DTaP, DTP, DT and Td)
• Hepatitis B vaccines
• The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine
• Annual flu vaccines

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with transverse myelitis following a vaccination, it is important that you speak with an attorney about pursuing a claim under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). Compensation may be available to you, and the sooner you file a claim the sooner you will be able to recover just compensation for your medical bills and other losses.

Signs and Symptoms of Transverse Myelitis Resulting from a Vaccination

The nerve cells in our spinal cords are covered in an insulating substance, called myelin. When a person contracts transverse myelitis, inflammation damages or destroys the myelin, leading to scarring of the nervous system. This, in turn, disrupts communication between the nerves in the spinal cord and the rest of the body, which can lead to symptoms such as:

• Bladder and bowel disjunction
• Numbness, tingling, coldness, burning and other sensations
• Pain, often radiating from the neck or back
• Weakness in the arms and legs

The Johns Hopkins University refers to transverse myelitis as an “unbiased condition.” This means that individuals of all ages who get vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis B, MMR, and flu vaccines are equally at risk for contracting this potentially life-changing inflammatory response.

Risks Associated with Vaccine-Related Transverse Myelitis

In severe cases, individuals who contract transverse myelitis from a vaccine can become paralyzed below the site of the inflammation in the spinal cord. As a result, the Mayo Clinic recommends that anyone experiencing symptoms of transverse myelitis treat their situation as a medical emergency. In addition, due to the generality of the symptoms of transverse myelitis, there is a risk that patients’ conditions may be misdiagnosed as a spinal cord stroke, vascular myelopathy or other conditions for which the treatment differs from that for transverse myelitis.

Treatment for Vaccine-Related Transverse Myelitis

“As with many disorders of the spinal cord, no effective cure currently exists for people with transverse myelitis. Treatments are designed to reduce spinal cord inflammation and manage and alleviate symptoms.” – National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Anti-inflammatory corticosteroid therapy is among the most common treatments for transverse myelitis. This therapy focuses on decreasing the patient’s inflammation, and in turn decreasing the chances of a permanent injury. Other treatment options may include plasma exchange therapy, antiviral and pain medications, and rehabilitative therapy focused on long-term disability and pain management.

Speak with a National Vaccine Attorney about Your Rights

If you would like more information about seeking financial compensation for vaccine-related transverse myelitis, contact the Law Offices of Leah V. Durant & Associates for a free, confidential consultation. With well over a decade of legal experience, attorney Leah Durant focuses her practice on helping clients secure compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). To discuss your situation in confidence, call (202) 775-9200 or inquire online today.