Complications

People with transverse myelitis usually experience only one episode. However, complications often linger, including the following:

• Pain, one of the most common debilitating long-term complications of the disorder.
• Stiffness, tightness or painful spasms in your muscles (muscle spasticity). This is most common in the buttocks and legs.
• Partial or total paralysis of your arms, legs or both. This may persist after the first symptoms.
• Sexual dysfunction, a common complication of transverse myelitis. Men may experience difficulty achieving an erection or reaching orgasm. Women may have difficulty reaching orgasm.
• Depression or anxiety, which is common in those with long-term complications because of the significant changes in lifestyle, the stress of chronic pain or disability, and the impact of sexual dysfunction on relationships.