Your spinal cord helps you perform motor functions and relays key sensory information to your brain, which is why problems can occur if the cord is ever damaged or compressed. As we get older or as a result of injury, our spinal column can shift a little, making it more likely that our spinal cord becomes compressed. If this issue develops in the topmost portion of your spine, it can lead to a condition known as cervical myelopathy. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at why cervical myelopathy develops and how the condition is treated.
Cervical Myelopathy Causes And Symptoms
As we referenced in the introduction, cervical myelopathy can develop for a few different reasons, but oftentimes it is spurred by degenerative changes as a result of aging, or an acute injury to the spine that alters its natural alignment. For example, patients who are dealing with spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, bone spurs or a disc herniation may all experience some spinal cord compression, as may anyone who suffers acute trauma to the area, like a whiplash injury. These changes can cause your spinal vertebrae to put pressure on the spinal cord and the nearby nerve roots. When this happens, you can experience localized or radiating symptoms that include:
- Pain
- Numbness
- Tingling sensation
- Weakness
- Difficulty performing fine motor tasks
- Loss of urinary or bowel control
- Decreased balance or coordination
Your exact symptoms will vary depending on the location of your cervical myelopathy and which spinal nerves are impacted. Many patients experience symptoms most intensely in the neck region, but symptoms can also be expressed in the arms, hands or legs.
Diagnosing And Treating Cervical Myelopathy
Because your cervical myelopathy could be caused by a few different underlying issues, and because the symptoms mimic a number of other spinal conditions, it’s imperative that you get an official diagnosis from a specialist in order to ensure the right treatment path is chosen. You can do this by setting up an appointment with your primary care physician or a specialist like Dr. Jackman.
At this assessment, your doctor will begin by asking you about your symptoms and reviewing your medical history. Next, they’ll conduct a physical exam that may involve putting some gentle pressure on the neck region or having you perform some basic head and neck movements. Odds are they’ll have a pretty good idea what’s going on in your neck by this point, but they may order an X-ray or MRI to get a better understanding of the injury or to rule out other issues.
Treatment will depend on the underlying cause of your cervical myelopathy. Not all underlying causes will be reversible, but many patients can work to decrease symptoms by pursuing non-operative or surgical treatments. Again, your specific course of treatment will depend on whether a disc issue, bone spurs or vertebral shifting is contributing to your myelopathy, but some of the most common conservative treatments involve a combination of rest/bracing, anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy and gentle stretching exercises.
For more severe cases, surgery may be recommended, as a surgeon can decompress the area and provide significant symptom relief. Depending on the root cause of your spinal cord compression, a laminoplasty (a procedure that increases the space through which your spinal cord and nerves pass) or a decompression and fusion operation (fusing structures in place so they can no longer shift and compress key spinal nerves) may be pursued. Your doctor can walk you through the specifics of either procedure should you reach this point.
Cervical myelopathy can make life uncomfortable, but know that you have treatment options available to you. Dr. Jackman and his team have helped countless patients plagued by cervical myelopathy, and he’d be happy to add your name to his list of satisfied patients. For more information, or for help with a different neck or back issue, reach out to Dr. Jackman and the team at The Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today at (651) 430-3800.
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