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Injury Guide

Transverse Myelitis

Inflammation of the spinal cord that can cause weakness, pain, numbness, and bladder or bowel problems. It is not on the Vaccine Injury Table.

By VaccineInjuries.org Editorial Team · Last reviewed

Good to know: Transverse myelitis is uncommon. NINDS notes that it is usually caused by other conditions, such as infections or immune system disorders, and that a vaccine is a rare trigger.

This guide is general information, not medical or legal advice. If you have symptoms, please talk to a doctor.

What is transverse myelitis?

Transverse myelitis is inflammation of the spinal cord. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the inflammation can damage the myelin that insulates nerve fibers, which interrupts signals between the spinal cord and the rest of the body.

NINDS lists several possible causes, including infections, other immune system conditions such as multiple sclerosis, and a post-infectious or post-vaccine autoimmune response. It notes that a vaccine is a rare trigger, and in some cases no cause is found.

Most people have at least partial recovery, according to NINDS, though recovery can take months or longer and some people have lasting effects.

Typical symptoms

  • Weakness in the legs, and sometimes the arms
  • Pain, often in the lower back or as sharp, shooting pain in the legs, arms, or around the torso
  • Numbness, tingling, burning, or sensitivity to touch, sometimes felt as a band around the trunk
  • Bladder and bowel problems

When symptoms typically start

NINDS describes transverse myelitis as either acute (developing over minutes to several days) or subacute (usually developing over one to four weeks). Because it is not on the Table, there is no regulatory onset window; instead, the timing is one piece of the causation evidence.

Is transverse myelitis on the Vaccine Injury Table?

No. Transverse myelitis is not listed on the Vaccine Injury Table for any vaccine. A VICP claim for transverse myelitis is an off-Table claim.

  • In an off-Table claim, the petitioner must show that the vaccine more likely than not caused the condition. This usually involves medical records, medical literature, and expert opinion.
  • Off-Table claims can be compensated, but they are typically more complex and take longer than Table claims.
  • The Table's definition of Guillain-Barré syndrome lists myelitis as a condition that rules out Table GBS, so the final diagnosis in the records matters.
  • COVID-19 vaccine claims go to the CICP, which has no COVID-19 injury table and a one-year filing deadline.

New to these terms? Read the difference between Table and off-Table injuries.

Filing deadlines

Both federal programs have strict deadlines. Missing one can end a claim, even a strong one, so it helps to write down key dates early.

VICP (most routine vaccines)

  • Injury claims: generally within 3 years after the first symptom or manifestation of onset or of the significant aggravation of the injury.
  • Death claims: within 2 years of the death and within 4 years of the first symptom of the injury that led to the death.
  • Table changes: if the Vaccine Injury Table is changed in a way that newly covers an injury, a claim may be filed within 2 years of the change for injuries up to 8 years before it.

CICP (COVID-19 vaccines and other countermeasures)

  • Generally within 1 year of the date the vaccine or other covered countermeasure was given.
  • HRSA notes that a letter of intent can be submitted to help meet the deadline while records are gathered.
  • The CICP does not pay attorneys' fees.

Severity requirement (VICP):the effects of the injury generally must have lasted more than 6 months, or resulted in inpatient hospitalization and surgical intervention, or resulted in death. Reporting a reaction to VAERS is not the same as filing a claim. See HRSA's VICP eligibility rules and CICP filing process, or our guide to vaccine injury filing deadlines.

Records that matter

You don't need to have everything gathered before asking questions. These are the records that typically help show what happened and when:

  • Vaccination record showing the vaccine and date
  • A clear timeline of when the first symptoms appeared
  • MRI reports of the spine and brain
  • Lumbar puncture (spinal fluid) and blood test results
  • Neurology records, including tests used to rule out other causes
  • Hospital, rehabilitation, and urology or bowel-care records
  • Follow-up records showing recovery or lasting effects

Frequently asked questions

Is transverse myelitis on the Vaccine Injury Table?

No. Transverse myelitis is not listed on the Vaccine Injury Table, so a VICP claim would be an off-Table claim. Off-Table claims can be compensated, but they require evidence that the vaccine more likely than not caused the condition.

Can a vaccine cause transverse myelitis?

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke lists a post-infectious or post-vaccine autoimmune response among possible causes and notes that a vaccine is a rare trigger. Many cases have other causes, and some have no identified cause. Whether a vaccine caused a specific case is decided on the evidence.

What evidence matters most in an off-Table claim?

Usually a clear timeline from vaccination to first symptoms, imaging and test results confirming the diagnosis, records showing that other likely causes were considered, and an expert medical opinion explaining how the vaccine could have caused the condition.

Is there a deadline to file?

Yes. VICP claims generally must be filed within three years after the first symptom. COVID-19 vaccine claims go to the CICP, which generally requires filing within one year of vaccination.

Related articles

Sources

Official regulations and government health sources used for this guide:

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