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“Tropical Spastic Paraparesis (TSP), also known as HTLV-1
associated myelopathy or chronic progressive myelopathy, is an infection of the
spinal cord by Human T-lymphotropic virus resulting in paraparesis, weakness of
the legs." Source: Wiki
Although not all victims experience the complications I experience,
the damage does not end with simple leg weakness. The depth of symptoms can also
depend upon a person’s immune system or method of exposure. Predisposed due to
a rare family gene, a leading virologist from Johns Hopkins said for me,
"It's simply bad luck.”
The fact is many victims do not know they are carriers. They
live their entire lives without any indication. A woman can pass this on to her
baby through breast-feeding without even realizing it. In many regions of the
world, TSP is familial, passed down from generation to generation. HTLV-1 also
spreads via contaminated blood products.
A person can live between ten to forty years with the disease.
Although the virus itself is not life threatening, many of the complications
can be. For instance, blood clots due to immobilization can cause a pulmonary embolism
or an uncontrolled or drug-resistant urinary tract infection both can lead to
death.
Unpleasant MRIs, spinal taps, and blood tests provide the
definitive diagnosis.
Symptoms
(Links with
defintions are highlighted in yellow – simply click)
· Progressive muscle
weakness
· Sensory disturbance
· Urinary
incontinence
· Uveitis
· Arthritis
