Cervical myelopathy – Cervical myelopathy
Cervical Myelopathy (Myelopathy, Cervical)
Description of cervical myelopathy
Cervical myelopathy – damage to the spinal cord in the neck area. The cervical spine begins at the base of the skull. It extends to the first seven vertebrae.
Causes of cervical myelopathy
Cervical myelopathy can cause:
- Herniated disk;
- Disc degeneration neck;
- Tumors within the spinal cord or the pressure on the spinal cord;
- Bone spurs;
- Dislocation or fracture of the neck;
- Traumatic injuries of the cervical spine;
- Autoimmune diseases (eg, transverse myelitis, multiple sclerosis, optic neuromyelitis).
Risk factors for cervical myelopathy
Factors, which increase the risk of cervical myelopathy:
- Infection;
- Išemiâ (restriction of blood supply);
- Autoimmune diseases (eg, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, optic neuromyelitis) or other disorders (eg, disease, degenerative diseases);
- The history of bone disease or back problems;
- The birth of a narrow spinal canal;
- Work and sports, in which there are regular stretching and spinal deformity.
Symptoms of cervical myelopathy
These symptoms, except for cervical myelopathy, They may be caused by other diseases. If you experience any of them, should see a doctor.
- Pain in the shoulder and arm;
- Tingling or numbness in hands and feet;
- Problems with walking or balancing;
- Muscular weakness;
- Problems of neck flexion;
- Dizziness;
- Problems with fine motor skills (eg, when buttoning a shirt);
- Automatism;
- Urinary bladder or intestine;
- Weakness below waist or in all four limbs.
Diagnosis of cervical myelopathy
The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical examination, paying attention to any muscle weakness. Neurological examination can also be done, to check:
- Reflexes;
- Sight;
- Mental condition.
Your doctor may prescribe Taking pictures of structures inside the body. For this purpose,:
- Roentgen;
- MRT;
- CT myelogram.
Other tests include:
- Rheotachygraphy – to measure the electrical activity of muscles;
- Somatosensory evoked potentials – for assessing nerve conduction in the spinal cord;
- Test visual evoked potentials (VEP) – to find problems in the brain, that affect vision.
Treatment of cervical myelopathy
On the basis of the diagnosis the doctor will determine the best treatment plan. This may include:
- Treating the causes of myelopathy;
- Improvement of lost functions;
- Reducing or managing pain it;
- Perform strengthening exercises;
- Learn how to reduce injuries;
- Teaching methods, can cope with the disease.
Surgery for cervical myelopathy
If there is pressure on the spinal cord, perhaps, required emergency surgery, to avoid further injury. There are many different types of operations and procedures of the neck:
- Discotomy – a surgical procedure to remove part of an intervertebral disc, which puts pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots;
- Laminectomy – a surgical procedure to remove part of the vertebra, It called vertebral arch;
- The merger of the vertebrae.
Non-surgical treatment approaches cervical myelopathy
Your doctor may recommend the following treatments:
- Physiotherapy;
- Occupational therapy;
- Other methods, such as ultrasound therapy, thermotherapy, electrostimulation;
- Plasmapheresis.
Medication for cervical myelopathy
Your doctor may prescribe:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs);
- Corticosteroids;
- Rituximab – It used to treat some autoimmune diseases.
Also sometimes used with other medicines, which affect the immune system.
Prevention of cervical myelopathy
It is difficult to prevent cervical myelopathy. The basic method is, to prevent accidents and strains:
- At work, take care of the ergonomics of the workplace – learning proper technique lifting, improve posture;
- Avoid contact sports, If you had disc disease of the spine or spinal cord compression;
- It is necessary to restrict the movement of the neck;
- Take measures to prevent falls:
- Remove rugs and other obstacles from the floor;
- Install a night light near stairs and your bed;
- Install grab bars in bath and shower;
- From a sitting or lying climb without sudden movements.
