Syringomyelia

Symptoms:

• numbness or decreased sensation
  • neck, shoulders, upper arms, trunk
  • slowly but progressively worsens
  • lessened ability to sense that the skin is being touched
  • decreased sense of heat

• weakness (decreased muscle strength, independent of exercise) in the arms or legs
• gradual loss of muscle mass (wasting, atrophy)
• muscle function loss, loss of ability to use arms or legs

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

• rashes
• muscle contractions
• movement, uncoordinated
• positive Babinski's reflex

Signs and tests:

Neurologic examination may show loss of sensation or movement caused by compression of the spinal cord.

A spinal CT with myelogram or an MRI of the spine confirms syringomyelia and determines the exact location and extent.