myelopathy

Causes of Myelopathy

• An injury, accident, blow, or other traumatic events to the spine can damage it and cause myelopathy. This may result in paralysis.
• A narrowing of the spinal canal, can damage the spinal cord and cause myelopathy.
• Other conditions that affect the spinal column, such as osteoporosis, can result in myelopathy.
• A tumor associated with the spinal column can cause myelopathy.
• Myelopathy may occur as the result of another disease, such as multiple sclerosis.

Diagnosing Myelopathy

When myelopathy comes on gradually, symptoms may be overlooked at first. In older patients, some symptoms may be shrugged off as just normal parts of growing older

• A physical examination.
• Your medical history.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.
• Other tests, as discussed with you.

Since there are many forms of myelopathy, different patients will undergo different types of diagnostic tests.

Symptoms of Myelopathy

People with myelopathy may have trouble with activities that require some degree of coordination, such as tying shoes or walking downstairs. It is not uncommon to have problems with balance, walking, or muscle weakness.

These symptoms may be mild at first and go unnoticed or at least not be a cause for concern.

You should consult the Sri Padmavathi Multi-Speciality Hospital

if you notice:

• Changes in coordination.
• Sudden muscle weakness.
• Inability to control your body, particularly hand-eye coordination, in ways you used to be able to do.

Treating Myelopathy

Myelopathy and spinal cord injuries are serious and complex medical problems. In some cases, compression or pressure on the spinal cord will put pressure on nerves. This may cause pain, weakness, or a lack of control. If you have muscle weakness and pain, you may be asked to consider treatment in order to relieve the pressure on the nerves. Over time, pressure on a nerve can permanently damage it. While many cells in the body have the ability to repair themselves, nerve cells can, in some instances, be irreversibly damaged.