Myelopathy is a term used to describe any neurological deficit related to the spinal cord. It’s a broad term that encompasses various conditions that lead to the compression or damage of the spinal cord.
In simpler terms, myelopathy means that there’s something wrong with your spinal cord — the bundle of nerves running down the middle of your spine that connects your brain to the rest of your body. This can happen because of various reasons, including an injury, a herniated disc, spinal stenosis (a narrowing of the spinal canal), or diseases like cancer or arthritis.
Myelopathy is a serious condition because the spinal cord plays a vital role in the body’s movement and sensation. If it’s compressed or damaged, it can lead to symptoms like weakness, numbness, and coordination problems. It can affect your arms, legs, or even the function of your bowels and bladder, depending on the level of the spine where the damage is located.
Myelopathy is a nerve injury in your spinal cord, which is the grouping of nerves that runs from your skull to your tailbone.
The condition is caused by compression of the spinal cord, resulting in pain, loss of sensation, or loss of control of certain body parts. Anyone can develop it, but it’s more commonly diagnosed in people who are older than 55 because it’s often related to the wear and tear your body endures over time.
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Causes of Cervical Myelopathy
In the context of cervical myelopathy, it refers to the compression of the spinal cord in the neck (cervical) region. This is the most common form of myelopathy and is often caused by age-related changes that narrow the spinal canal. This compression can lead to significant disability, affecting mobility and quality of life. One common treatment of cervical myelopathy is a surgical procedure called cervical laminoplasty.
Cervical spine myelopathy can occur due to spinal stenosis or any compression of the cervical spinal cord at the cervical spine level.