• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Spinal Life Australia
  • HLC Cairns
  • HLC Brisbane

Spinal Life Australia

1300 774 625

Menu

Close menu

  • Knowledge Guide
    • What is spinal cord damage
    • Impacts to your body
    • Mental Health & Wellbeing
    • Pain Management
    • Sex & Relationships
    • Getting back to work
  • Therapies and Support
    • Search Available Services
    • Clinics and Classes
    • Peer Support
    • Personal Support
    • Community Nursing
    • Physiotherapy
    • Exercise Physiology
    • Allied Health Assistants
    • Occupational Therapy
    • Assistive Technology
    • Support Coordination
    • Plan Management
    • Advocacy
    • Access and Inclusion Consulting
    • Mobility Aids and Equipment
  • Resources for you
    • Understanding your funding
    • Training solutions
    • About the Disability Royal Commission
    • Subscribe to our newsletter
    • The Advocate magazine
    • Events
    • Spinal Life Takeaways
  • Our community
    • About Spinal Life Australia
    • Become a member
    • Donate
    • Our Board and Executive Team
    • Our Patron and Ambassadors
    • Our Sponsors and Supporters
  • Work with us
    • Current opportunities
  • Contact us
    • Get in touch
    • Feedback & complaints
    • Our locations
  • Donate

Raising awareness of Transverse Myelitis for Rare Disease Day

February 28, 2023 by Rachel Toune

Media Release

Being diagnosed with a chronic illness is a life-changing event, and can often require significant changes to a person’s lifestyle. While this is challenging enough on its own, a lack of public knowledge on the illness due to its rarity can make adjusting to the diagnoses even more daunting.

This Rare Disease Day (28 February 2023), Spinal Life Australia is raising awareness of a rare yet debilitating disease, Transverse Myelitis (TM), sharing the services available to those living with the disease.

TM is a rare disease characterised by inflammation of the spinal cord, which results in damage to the cord. However, the exact cause is often unknown, but it can start with infections such as influenza or immune system disorders that can attack the body tissue [1].

Most people affected by TM will have only one attack, but a small percentage may have more than one. The disorder can affect anyone, no matter their age or gender with the severity of symptoms often varying on a case-to-case basis.

Spinal Life Australia Board Chair, Gyl Stacey, was diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis when she was just 15 years old.

Ms Stacey said a TM diagnosis, much like other rare diseases and disorders, is a life changing experience on the individual and their family.

“While most people will make a partial recovery, unfortunately those who experience severe attacks can be left with major impairments,” she said.

“Spinal cord damage is something that affects every part of your life from the physical implications to the mental, social, and economic, with the road back to gaining independence often being challenging.”

At first, symptoms may include lower back pain, which can go unnoticed by individuals but can rapidly develop into spasms, chest pain, difficulty breathing, sensory alterations, bowel and bladder dysfunction and weakness in arms or legs, or even total paralysis [2].

Unfortunately, there is no effective cure for TM with treatments focussed on relieving the inflammation that causes the symptoms [3].

Ms Stacey says that the symptoms of TM affect every aspect of a person’s day-to-day life, and due to the lack of understanding of this rare condition, having access to proper support is vital.

“The symptoms of TM often lead to the person requiring specialised support services, and because the majority of people aren’t informed on this disease, living with TM can often by quite an isolating experience”.

While around one third of patients will recover from the disorder with little to no ongoing issues, another third will be left with moderate impairments and the remaining third will be left with severe impairments.

This Rare Disease Day (28 February, 2023), Spinal Life Australia is urging the public to learn more about Transverse Myelitis (TM) and the support offered for people living with the disorder.

Click here to read more about Transverse Myelitis.

Find out more about Rare Disease Day.

Filed Under: Media releases

Find services near you

Location Map (Woolloongabba)

GETTING THERE

Use the Accessible Australia app to find information and reviews to help you get around better.

Visit

Footer

Quick Links

  • Donate
  • Publications
  • News
  • Blog
  • Privacy
  • PSW Resources/Login
  • Office Staff Login

Contact Us

We'd love to hear from you! Leave a message here or you can call toll free on: 1300 774 625

Your feedback

Feedback is always welcome from our members, clients and the general public.

Leave Feedback

Pay your invoices online

Settling your Spinal Life invoices is easy with our online payment portal.

Pay online

Copyright © 2025 Spinal Life Australia. All Rights Reserved.

Accessibility Statement Sitemap Admin

Back to top