Syringomyelia (pronounced sear-IN-go-my-EEL-ya) is damage to the spinal cord due to the formation of a fluid-filled cavity or cyst within the cord.
This cyst called a Syrinx is located in the centre of the cord and expands slowly putting pressure on the spinal cord and slowly causing damage.
Syringomyelia is often associated with a congenital brain malformation called Chiari (Pronounced key-are-ee) Malformation type 1, Syringomyelia can be congenital or as a result of spinal cord tumour or other spinal lesions. Treatment depends on the underlying cause of the Syrinx formation, removing the cause can sometimes resolve the problem, sometimes a shunt is inserted into the cyst to drain the contents.
I was diagnosed with a cervical Syrinx, I am on pain medication for now, my Neurosurgeon is monitoring my condition and has decided to treat it conservatively as the risks of surgery are to high right now.
Syringomyelia: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002373/
Chiari Malformation: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/chiari/detail_chiari.htm
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