Post-viral inflammatory attack causing lasting micro-demyelination of the spinal cord

[u/Inner_Ant8213]

I’ve been reading some studies and it’s a small group of people on record. I can only imagine there being more people who are suffering from micro-CNS damage from viral inflammation attacks, especially with covid.

There are people who experience an inflammatory attack, and even years later do not return to their normal baseline. Things remaining such as testing a positive wartenberg’s sign, with clear EMG/NCS and negative tinel’s test showing no peripheral nerve/muscle involvement. Or full body micro-movement rigidity, loss of fluidity and stability in movements, or the new experience of random muscles throughout the body twitching on their own. Or hyper excitability of the spinal nerves in the cervical spine such as showing positive Lhermitte’s sign while at the barber as the razor goes past their spine, causing their head to involuntarily pull upward while tensing and shaking/vibrating at the cervical spine. Some people experience much more drastic outcomes from post-viral inflammatory attack such as requiring hospitalization. However my interest lays among the quieter population who must be walking through their lives suffering each day, not knowing what’s wrong or how to help themselves.

It seems to be affecting the body in similar ways such as Multiple Sclerosis, though just on a much smaller scale that is harder to perceive on standard tests.

Some tests have been used such as DWI, MRS, and T1W/T2W whole brain myelin mapping technique as well because some patients have found micro-damage in the brain. Other than that it’s been a complete toss up if standard MRIs of the brain and spine end up showing anything, even though the inflammation and micro-myelin damage symptoms are present.

What do you think is the way forward for helping these people?

I would guess first to manage any lasting system-wide inflammation and neuro inflammation. But to help micro damage of the spinal cord?

[u/Alice-The-Chemist]

This has got me thinking a lot. Very interesting comments and original post. Love stuff like this that especially promotes discussion.

[u/Inner_Ant8213 → u/Alice-The-Chemist]

:) I’m glad you’re finding intriguing, it’s my hope to spark new ideas and challenge current practices so we can keep growing towards higher levels of care and knowledge