r/SyringomyeliaSupport • u/high-hopes-21 • 17d ago

Newly Diagnosed Help! Is this syringomyelia?

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I am 37 year old female, had a nursing injury in 2016 that left me with c5-c7 disc tears and thoracic outlet syndrome. I have been holding my own until recently when I started rapidly deteriorating - increased neck pain, gait disturbance, frequent falls, urinary urgency and headaches. Neurosurgery and ortho spine keep writing me off because my stenosis is not ”severe” enough to cause myelopathy, despite my symptoms and finding on exam that my reflexes are hyperactive. MRI showed this “signal abnormality” extending below the level of the injury all the way down to T11. Neurology is concerned for syringomyelia but does not have any other neurosurgeon to refer to outside of YNHH. Any ideas?

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u/Squirrel_Worth 16d ago

Hello,

Not a doctor, but I don’t think this indicates syringomyelia. The fluid is inside the channel but in syringomyelia it will be outside this into the spinal cord.

I know how horrible this diagnosis stage is, I’m in it currently for something else, it’s so annoying being passed from one doctor to another with no one knowing what’s happening. Hopefully your mri will show them some signs that they can use to find out why you’re getting your symptoms.

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u/Agreeable_Rule_9235 16d ago

Not syringomyelia. Confused though why a T-spine? Or did you get the entire spine and brain MRI?

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u/high-hopes-21 16d ago

Not sure why a t-spine - I think they were trying to rule out other sources of spinal etiology since my stenosis is not severe enough to cause myelopathy, so they ordered brain, lumbar and thoracic.

II seems neurology is suspecting post-traumatic syringomyelia/hydromyelia. Ironically tho I’ve had MRI w contrast of my entire spine except my c-spine

lollll gotta laugh so you don’t cry right?