What is cervical disc disease with myelopathy?
Cervical myelopathy is a serious condition affecting the cervical spine, and if left untreated it can lead to significant and permanent nerve damage including paralysis and death. In most cases, this is an urgent surgical condition. Myelopathy describes any neurologic symptoms related to dysfunction of the spinal cord.
What is disc myelopathy?
Myelopathy is an injury to the spinal cord caused by severe compression that may be a result of spinal stenosis, disc degeneration, disc herniation, autoimmune disorders or other trauma.
What is the best treatment for cervical myelopathy?
MRI scans are the preferred diagnostic method for cervical myelopathy, but other methods can also be used to help rule out other conditions. Cervical myelopathy is best treated with spine decompression surgery.
Does cervical myelopathy go away?
Can it be cured? Although there are several very good nonsurgical and surgical treatment options available to relieve the symptoms of cervical myelopathy and radiculopathy, there is no cure, per se, for the degenerative changes in the cervical spine that caused the symptoms.
Why cervical myelopathy is best treated with surgery?
Pain medication. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs),such as aspirin or ibuprofen,may help relieve pain or discomfort.
How is cervical disc disease diagnosed?
Sometimes headaches result from cervical degenerative disc problems. Cervical disc disorders if advanced enough are diagnosable on plain x-ray, which shows collapse or reduction in the height of the disc and possible bone spurs and bony end plate changes. An MRI is most useful diagnostic imaging for these conditions.
How does cervical stenosis with myelopathy affect your body?
– Weakness or numbness. Hand weakness or numbness can get bad enough to affect grip. – Reduced fine motor skills. The person might encounter more trouble with typing, handwriting, buttoning a shirt, or putting a key in a door. – Changes in walking. – Neck pain or stiffness. – Nerve pain.
What are the symptoms of a ruptured cervical disc?
Tingling sensations