brain, spinal cord, and nerve disorders
Syrinx of the Spinal Cord or Brain Stem
Symptoms of Syrinx of the Spinal Cord or Brain Stem
Symptoms of a syrinx usually begin subtly between adolescence and about age 45. Syrinxes in the neck(syringomyelia) often make people less sensitive to pain and temperature, particularly in the arms, upper back, lower neck, and hands. Thus, cuts and burns on the arms and hands are common. People may not recognize this decreased sensitivity for years. As a syrinx expands and lengthens, it can cause weakness and wasting (atrophy) of muscles, usually beginning in the hands. Later, the syrinx causes weakness and spasms in the legs. Symptoms may be more severe on one side of the body. Syrinxes in the brain stem(syringobulbia) can cause vertigo, nystagmus (rapid movement of the eyes in one direction followed by a slower drift back to the original position), loss of sensation in the face (on one or both sides), loss of taste, difficulty speaking, hoarseness, and difficulty swallowing. Muscles of the tongue may weaken and waste away. Syringobulbias are rare. 