tabes dorsalis
Syphilitic spinal disease
Tabes dorsalis is a late-stage complication of untreated syphilis affecting the spinal cord.
It causes progressive degeneration of nerve fibers, leading to loss of coordination, stabbing pains, and difficulty walking.
The condition was common before antibiotics made syphilis treatable: The old professor's shuffling gait suggested tabes dorsalis.
Spirochete-caused venereal infection
- tertiary syphilisAdvanced treponema pallidum damage
- demyelinationNerve sheath degradation
- paresisPartial loss of movement
- neuropathyDamage to peripheral nerves
spirochete · venereal disease · chronic infection · progressive disease · neurodegeneration
Advanced treponema pallidum damage
- spirocheteSpiral-shaped bacterium
- penicillinFungus-derived infection fighter
- Wassermann testSerological syphilis detection method
- congenital syphilisTreponema infection from mother
Fungus-derived infection fighter
- antibioticsBacteria-destroying medicines
- lumbar punctureExtracting cerebrospinal fluid diagnostically
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
- physical therapyRehabilitative movement-based medical care
Brain's extension through vertebrae
- sensory neuronsCells transmitting stimuli inward
- lumbar spineVertebral column's bottom segment
- peripheral nervesNeural pathways outside CNS
- myelin sheathLipid layer around axons
Abnormal walking pattern
- paresthesiaAbnormal skin sensation
- hypotoniaDecreased muscle tone condition
- unsteady gaitIrregular, wavering locomotion
- stumblingWalking clumsily, almost falling
numbness · tingling · incontinence · impotence · diplopia
Sudden piercing bodily distress
- lancinatingSharply cutting through
- unsteadyLacking balance or stability
- incontinenceInability to retain waste
- impotenceLack of strength or power
diplopia · ptosis · numbness · tingling · bone pain · analgesia · hypotonia
Era's primitive healing practices
- 19th centuryThe eighteen hundreds
- asylumShelter from persecution
- sanitariumMedical recovery facility
- neuropathologyStudy of nervous system diseases
Abnormal shape in skeleton
- foot ulcersOpen sores on lowest extremity
- fallsDescends or declines
- disabilityImpairment affecting life activities
- paralysisLoss of muscle function
syphilis
Spirochete-caused venereal infection
- tertiary syphilisAdvanced treponema pallidum damage
- demyelinationNerve sheath degradation
- paresisPartial loss of movement
neuropathy · spirochete · venereal disease · chronic infection · progressive disease · neurodegeneration
tertiary syphilis
Advanced treponema pallidum damage
- spirocheteSpiral-shaped bacterium
- penicillinFungus-derived infection fighter
- Wassermann testSerological syphilis detection method
penicillin
Fungus-derived infection fighter
- antibioticsBacteria-destroying medicines
- lumbar punctureExtracting cerebrospinal fluid diagnostically
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
spinal cord
Brain's extension through vertebrae
- sensory neuronsCells transmitting stimuli inward
- lumbar spineVertebral column's bottom segment
- peripheral nervesNeural pathways outside CNS
gait disturbance
Abnormal walking pattern
- paresthesiaAbnormal skin sensation
- hypotoniaDecreased muscle tone condition
- unsteady gaitIrregular, wavering locomotion
stumbling · numbness · tingling · incontinence · impotence · diplopia
shooting pain
Sudden piercing bodily distress
- lancinatingSharply cutting through
- unsteadyLacking balance or stability
- incontinenceInability to retain waste
impotence · diplopia · ptosis · numbness · tingling · bone pain · analgesia · hypotonia
Victorian medicine
Era's primitive healing practices
- 19th centuryThe eighteen hundreds
- asylumShelter from persecution
- sanitariumMedical recovery facility
bone deformity
Abnormal shape in skeleton
- foot ulcersOpen sores on lowest extremity
- fallsDescends or declines
- disabilityImpairment affecting life activities
paresthesia
Abnormal skin sensation
- sensory lossImpaired ability to perceive
- spinal conditionsspinal cord injury, spinal fracture, spinal curvature, spinal stenosis, spinal deformity
- syphilissyphilis, Treponema pallidum, tertiary syphilis, congenital syphilis, chancre