What is Syringomyelia?

In some people, spinal fluid can build up inside the spinal cord. This can be due to the blockage from a Chiari malformation, spinal trauma, a tumor, or other causes. As the amount of spinal fluid increases, it creates a cavity in the spinal cord called a syrinx. This results in stretching and eventually injury to nerve fibers. The condition is called syringomyelia and can cause numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness in the arms, legs, and body.