Syringomyelia Awareness

Syringomyelia affects thousands of people in the United States and all over the world. Yet isn't well known by doctors or recognized as a serious disorder in the States. Most people with Syringomyelia dont get the care they deserve. Due to low public awareness people tend to believe the person suffering from it is faking or lying.

Syringomyelia is a disorder where cysts, called syrinx, forms in the spinal cord.  These syrinxs expand and elongate over time, destroying a portion of the spinal cord from its center and expanding outward. Damage to the spinal cord often leads to progressive weakness in the arms and legs, stiffness in the back, shoulders, arms, or legs, and chronic, severe pain.  Some common symptoms may include headaches, a loss of the ability to feel extremes of hot or cold, loss of bladder function, and much more. Each individual experiences a different combination of symptoms depending on where in the spinal cord the syrinx forms and how far it extends. 

It's unclear exactly how and why syringomyelia happens. When it develops, cerebrospinal fluid — the fluid that surrounds, cushions and protects your brain and spinal cord — collects within the spinal cord itself, forming a fluid-filled syrinx.

Several conditions and diseases can lead to syringomyelia, including: Chiari Malformation, meningitis, spinal cord tumor, conditions present at birth, and spinal cord injuries.

Please help spread word about Syringomyelia so that it will get the attention it deserve and become recognized throughout the United States. The more people who recognizes Syringomyelia as the serious disorder will persuade each state to take part in making the month of May Syringomyelia Awareness Month along with other countries.

 By signing you are saying you recognize Syringomyelia, support the people affected by it, & that they deserve a chance for better healh care.