Myelopathy in the Cervical Spine

Myelopathy occurs when the spinal cord becomes compressed. When this condition occurs in the cervical spine, it is typically the result of spinal stenosis (the narrowing of nerve passageways) or a herniated disc. It is most common in older patients and is marked by a number of uncomfortable, potentially debilitating symptoms.

Symptoms of Myelopathy

Believe it or not, most patients with a compressed cervical spinal cord don’t feel any pain in the neck. They may, however, experience the following symptoms:

• Arm pain
• Difficulty performing fine motor skills (such as writing)
• Legs that feel heavy
• Shooting pains in the arms

Symptoms typically build gradually since the compression of the cervical spine is usually a gradual process in and of itself.

Treating Myelopathy

Surgery is often the most effective means for treating myelopathy. Doctors may recommend conservative treatments such as over-the-counter pain medications, moderate exercise and hot/cold therapy to reduce the arm pain that is typically associated with this condition.

Open spine decompression surgery is sometimes recommended, but before committing to this major operation, patients may want to consider the minimally invasive procedures performed by the orthopedic surgeons at Laser Spine Institute. Our procedures require small incisions and utilize local anesthesia and deep IV sedation, creating fewer risks than open back surgery. Contact Laser Spine Institute for more information about our procedures, and to receive a free MRI or CT scan review.