How do you know if you have syringomyelia?

Common signs/symptoms include pain in the neck and shoulders, muscle weakness, pain and stiffness in the legs, numbness or decreased sensation, especially to hot and cold, abnormal curvature of the spine (scoliosis), muscle contractions, and uncoordinated movements (ataxia).

Can a small syrinx cause symptoms?

Damage to the spinal cord caused by a syrinx can lead to symptoms such as progressive pain, stiffness, and weakness in the: back. shoulders. arms.

Can syringomyelia go away?

When the flow of cerebrospinal fluid is blocked, however, some of the excess fluid can enter the spinal cord. This is the beginning of a syrinx. Untreated, syrinxes tend to expand over time, though some remain stable or even disappear.

What happens if syringomyelia is left untreated?

(See Symptoms of Syringomyelia.) As it stretches it may damage the gray matter in the spinal cord and cause pain, loss of sensation, and loss of muscle bulk. Damage to the white matter causes stiffness and poor muscle control. Left untreated, a syrinx may eventually lead to paralysis.

Can syringomyelia cause breathing problems?

Complications of syringomyelia In some cases of syringomyelia, the cyst grows into the brain stem and interferes with vital functions such as breathing and heartbeat. This complication is called syringobulbia. Some of the symptoms of syringobulbia may include: swallowing difficulties.

What does a syrinx feel like?

It is common to have a loss of sensation that spreads like a cape over the shoulders and back. Late in the condition, the affected individual may have spastic muscles or weakness of the legs. Other symptoms can include: A loss in the ability to feel extremes of hot or cold, especially in the hands.

What sensory system is affected in syringomyelia?

A syrinx may extend into the medulla, producing a syringobulbia. This syndrome is characterized by dysphagia, nystagmus, pharyngeal and palatal weakness, asymmetric weakness and atrophy of the tongue, and sensory loss involving primarily pain and temperature senses in the distribution of the trigeminal nerve.

Does syringomyelia affect the legs?

Signs and symptoms of syringomyelia, which might affect your back, shoulders, arms or legs, can include: Muscle weakness and wasting (atrophy) Loss of reflexes. Loss of sensitivity to pain and temperature.

What are autonomic signs and symptoms of syringomyelia?

Stiffness in your back,shoulders,arms and legs

What is the prognosis of syringomyelia?

People with the disorder might lose the ability to feel cold and pain normally. Some people with this disorder won’t have any symptoms and won’t need treatment. For others, syringomyelia will cause symptoms and complications that worsen as the syrinx expands. Treatment aims to relieve the pressure on your spinal cord.

Can syringomyelia go away without treatment?

Syringomyelia is a cyst in the spinal cord which can result in numbness over the back or trunk and in more severe cases, weakness of the hands and arms. Untreated, it typically worsens slowly over time. In some cases, it stabilizes and does not worsen while in others it can completely resolve without surgery.

Will you die from syringomyelia?

In brief: Unlikely. Syringomyelia will not kill you unless it due to a global condition called hydrocephalus or the result of a tumor (in which case the tumor is more dangerous).