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Spinal Myelopathy

With age, people become more likely to develop conditions like spinal myelopathy. Spinal myelopathy is an internal injury that causes pain in the neck, lower back or limbs due to severe compression. While this condition often results from a separate injury or disease, normal wear and tear can also create symptoms of myelopathy.

As 500,000 people develop spinal cord injuries every year, maintaining proper spine health has become more critical than ever. An accurate spinal myelopathy diagnosis may uncover other conditions causing you pain. You can eliminate your back pain and seek treatment for spinal myelopathy with proper diagnosis and medical care.

What Is Spinal Myelopathy?

Spinal myelopathy is a condition resulting from compressed nerves in the spinal cord. The spinal cord has a system of nerves that connect the head to the entire body, so a constricted section can create widespread discomfort. Depending on where and how this condition occurs in each person’s body, spinal myelopathy can make walking, sitting and fine motor function painful.
Patients experience spinal myelopathy throughout the spinal cord. The three most common types of myelopathy include:
Cervical myelopathy

Cervical myelopathy refers to a compression in the neck area. Most patients with spinal myelopathy experience this type.

Thoracic myelopathy

Thoracic myelopathy often occurs after an injury in the middle of the spine. Herniated discs or spinal trauma are common causes of thoracic myelopathy.

Lumbar myelopathy

While rare, lumbar myelopathy refers to an injury in the lower back. Patients with lumbar myelopathy may experience difficulty walking or lower back pain.

Causes and Risk Factors for Spinal Myelopathy

Your spine’s strength depends on each element of its construction. Since the spinal cord is a delicate system, even small amounts of compression can affect your back. Spinal myelopathy is typically a symptom of other spinal conditions that injure your nerves.

Along with the gradual degeneration of your spinal discs, various medical conditions can put you at risk for spinal myelopathy:

  • Age:

    Age is often the best indicator of what causes spinal conditions since the spine weakens over time.

  • Neck injury:

    Acute spinal myelopathy can result from sudden neck or upper back trauma.

  • Rheumatoid arthritis:

    Arthritis and other autoimmune disorders can weaken the vertebrae and cause compression.

  • Spinal tumor:

    Cancerous growths in the spine can press on the spinal cord and weaken the body’s ability to reduce pain.

  • Spinal stenosis:

    Spinal stenosis occurs when the passageways in the spine narrow and press on the nerves.

  • Herniated discs:

    A herniated disc can irritate the spinal cord and create painful myelopathy symptoms.

Symptoms of Spinal Myelopathy

Spinal myelopathy encompasses many potential symptoms based on where the compressed nerve is. Most patients with spinal myelopathy describe pain or weakness in their legs, arms, feet, lower back or neck.

Even mild cases may put you at risk of a chronic condition, so listen to your body if you have any of the following symptoms:

  • Numbness
  • Tingling feeling
  • Pain or weakness 
  • Difficulty walking
  • Bowel inconsistencies
  • Loss of fine motor skills
  • Balance and coordination issues

How to Reach a Spinal Myelopathy Diagnosis

Spinal myelopathy often results from underlying conditions that may have gone undiagnosed. It becomes more likely to develop various medical conditions that affect your spine’s health as you age. At the Desert Institute for Spine Care (DISC), we use a proprietary technique called Personalized Pain Mapping (PPM) to identify the root cause of your discomfort.

For spinal myelopathy, we require an MRI or CT scan to pinpoint the exact source of your pain. When we personally review your imaging and listen to your story, we can make an informed decision about the next steps. DISC specialists will always choose the most effective and least invasive methods to diagnose and treat your myelopathy.

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Spinal Myelopathy Treatment

The ideal treatment plan for you will depend on the severity and cause of your spinal myelopathy. If you’re diagnosed with cervical, thoracic or lumbar myelopathy, you will have surgical and non-surgical pain management options. Many non-invasive therapies and strategies can help you relieve discomfort. For patients with severe root causes, surgical solutions may be best.

Non-surgical spinal myelopathy treatment

The most common forms of non-surgical spinal myelopathy treatment include:

  • Physical therapy
  • Medication
  • Bracing
  • Therapeutic injections

Surgical spinal myelopathy treatment

The most common surgical treatment of spinal myelopathy includes:

Contact Us for Expert Spinal Myelopathy Treatment in Arizona

At a DISC treatment center, we give you detailed attention and care for any spinal condition. As experts in spinal treatment, we provide the pain relief you need to restore your lifestyle. Trust our team of surgeons and specialists to create personalized plans that allow you to begin the healing process and feel the difference. 

Choose DISC and receive treatment from the best doctors for spinal myelopathy in Arizona. Reach out to our team online or call 602-944-2900 for more information!

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1635 E. Myrtle • Suite 400 • Phoenix, AZ 85020
Ph: 602-944-2900 • Fax: 602-944-0064

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