Syringomyelia is not very common and affects only every 8 out of 100,000 people.
Syringomyelia also accounts for up to 5 percent of paraplegia or paralysis of the legs and low body.
Syringomyelia is a rare disease and condition.
Syringomyelia affects approximately eight out of every 100,000 people, and men are more at risk than women (for reasons unknown).
The average age of onset of syringomyelia is about 30 years of age.
There are broadly three types of syringomyelia.
Syringomyelia causes the development of a fluid-filled cyst in the spinal cord.
As the cyst enlarges over time, it may cause muscle atrophy, loss of reflexes, and loss of sensitivity to pain and temperature.
One estimate places the incidence at 8.4 individuals per 100,000 in the general population in the United States.
Syringomyelia is considered to be a rare condition, and early estimates suggested that approximately 21,000 individuals were affected with this condition.
And given the current estimates on U.S. population size from the recent census, this figure would suggest that about 1/18,000 Americans have syringomyelia.
In some people, syringomyelia can progress and lead to serious complications.
Others have no symptoms.
Possible complications as a syrinx enlarges or if it damages nerves within your spinal cord include: An abnormal curve of your spine (scoliosis)
Avoid doing anything that worsens your symptoms.
For many people with syringomyelia, heavy lifting and straining can trigger symptoms, so avoid these activities.
Also, avoid flexing your neck.
Syringomyelia is included in the SSA's Blue Book of disabling conditions under Medical Listing 11.19.
According to this listing, a patient will qualify for Social Security Disability benefits if they are suffering from a case of syringomyelia that meets certain qualifying criteria.
Some cases of Syringomyelia are familial, although this is rare.
Congenital syringomyelia (also known as communicating syringomyelia) is most often caused by a Chiari malformation and resulting syrinx, usually in the spine's cervical (neck) region.
Symptoms typically begin between the ages of 25 and 40 years.