What is myelopathy?
Myelopathy is compression of the spinal cord.
Nonsurgical treatments are considered before surgery to decompress the spinal cord.
Myelopathy causes the following symptoms:
- Pain in the neck or back;
- Numbness, weakness, or tingling in the limbs;
- Difficulty lifting even small objects;
- Loss of balance or coordination;
- Loss of bowel and bladder control.
Spinal cord compression damages and affects many nerves that control movement and other functions. Symptoms vary depending on which part of the spinal cord is affected.
Common causes include:
- Herniated disc;
- Infection and inflammation;
- Neurodegenerative disease;
- Spinal stenosis;
- Spondylosis;
- Traumatic injury;
- Tumor.
Myelopathy can affect people of any age, although the diagnosis is especially common in people over 40. According to statistics, myelopathy is more common in men.
Source:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21966-myelopathy
