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Transverse Myelitis (TM)

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Transverse Myelitis, or TM, causes swelling on one or both sides of the spinal cord. The condition has been reported as a rare side effect of some vaccines, including the flu vaccine, vaccines to prevent diphtheria and tetanus, and pneumonia vaccines.

Diagnosed with TM Following Vaccination? Contact a Vaccine Injury Lawyer to Learn If You Qualify for Compensation.

Individuals diagnosed with transverse myelitis, or TM, following administration of the flu vaccine or another inoculation may be entitled to compensation. To contact one of Bernstein Liebhard LLP’s vaccine injury lawyers, please call (888) 994-5118.

What is Transverse Myelitis?

Transverse myelitis, or TM, is a neurological disorder that often damages the myelin, the protective layer that covers nerve cell fibers. Because the disease inhibits the spinal cord’s ability to send nerve signals to the body, it can result in serious complications, including:

• Pain
• Muscle weakness
• Paralysis
• Sensory problems
• Sexual dysfunction
• Bladder and bowel dysfunction
• Depression and anxiety

Transverse Myelitis Symptoms

Symptoms associated with TM usually develop over a few hours to few days. However, they may also progress over a period of weeks.

Signs and symptoms of TM may include:

• Pain: Pain associated with traverse myelitis will depend on the area of the spinal cord affected. It may begin suddenly in the lower back. Some patients have also reported sharp pains that shoot down their arms and legs or around their chest and abdomen.
• Abnormal sensations: Some patients report numbness, tingling, coldness, or burning sensations, while others may experience sensitivity to light or temperature. TM sufferers have also described a “tightly-wrapped” feeling around the chest and abdomen.
• Weakness in the arms or legs: TM can cause severe heaviness in a leg, foot dragging, extreme weakness in the limbs, and even total paralysis.
• Bladder and bowel problems: Frequent urination, incontinence, difficulty urinating, or constipation.

While many patients fully recover from TM, others will suffer permanent disability that may make it difficult to accomplish normal, daily tasks.

Vaccines and Transverse Myelitis.

The exact cause of TM is not known. It has been associated with viruses and other infections, as well as multiple sclerosis and certain autoimmune disorders.

In rare instances, TM has been triggered by certain vaccines, including

• Seasonal flu vaccine
• Diphtheria-tetanus vaccines, including Tdap and DTap
• Pneumonia conjugate vaccine
• Meningitis vaccine

Compensation for Vaccine-Related Transverse Myelitis

The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (NVICP) provides compensation to those who have been harmed by vaccines.  To date, the program has paid out more than $3.9 billion to victims of vaccine-related injuries, including numerous individuals who were diagnosed with TM.

To learn of you might qualify to file a transverse myelitis claim with the NVICP, please call (888) 994-5118 to discuss your case with a member of our legal team.