Hi-
I will pray for you. It seems that TM has many different forms. I was diagnosed in early 2003 when my arms started to burn and I couldn't put any clothing near my skin. Then I started to stumble and drag my feet. When I started to feel completely numb from the waist down, the neurology team at my local hospital gave me an emergency MRI. AT first they thought there was a growth or inflammation on my cervical spine. They finally diagnosed the TM (AFTER I DID FROM READING ON-LINE) but it was very extensive, from cervical through thoracic. I had several episodes where I actually fell and couldn't walk for a short period. However, with the prayers of my church family I started getting around with a cane. With large doses of steroids the inflammation disappeared. I now lead a fairly normal life although I still experience pain from the chest down. It's weird pain, sometimes burning, sometimes numbness and tingling, sometimes my legs are so heavy I can't lift them. I use neurontin for nerve pain, celebrex because I also have Sjogrens Syndrome which causes arthritis type pain, and imuran, which is an immunosuppressant because my TM was caused by the immune system response. I have also used Percocet since I went off the steroids in late 2003, and I teach high school full time. I could not function without these meds, but after reading about acupuncture, I am going to explore that option.
I hope you get through this and have no residual effects.
In Christ's Love,
Anne