• A person suffering from cervical myelopathy may experience numbness, imbalance, weakness and difficulties in bowel and bladder movements. The most common symptoms of this condition are numbness in hand, clumsiness, usually in performing tasks, which require fine motor skills like buttoning up. The patient may also be unsteady while walking or even standing. Other symptoms may include:
• Weakness of the arms/hands
• Coordination problems
• Muscle spasm
• Difficulty walking
• Tingling/burning sensation
• Urgency in urinating

A diagnosis for any medical condition begins with a careful review of the patient’s and family’s clinical history. Then the patient is subjected to a physical examination. Confirmation of the occurrence of cervical myelopathy and the exact location of the aberration is done by one or more of the following imaging tests:

* X-rays

* MRI scans

* CT scans

* CT myelograms

These tests will also reveal how the spinal cord is compressed, the amount of spine area affected and the condition of the compressing tissue.

Milder forms of cervical myelopathy may be treated with medicine, physiotherapy or a movement-restricting collar, etc. For severe cases, and in others where non-surgical treatment procedures are ineffective, surgery may become the last resort. Other factors that determine the treatment plan are the cause of the myelopathy, structural pressure on the spine, etc.,

For severe cases, and in others where non-surgical treatment procedures are ineffective, surgery may become the last resort. Other factors that determine the treatment plan are the cause of the myelopathy, structural pressure on the spine, etc. Surgical options are the following:

• Diskectomy: This operation removes the part of the disc that is causing the pressure to the spinal cord
• Laminectomy: A procedure that removes the lamina, a part of the vertebra.
• Laminoplasty technique where the spinal canal is widened in space without removing the normal bone.
• Cervical Fusion: In this surgery, screws and a plate are inserted to strengthen the spine and prevent pressure within the spinal cord

Brain & Spine

Brain and Spine – Our specialist evaluates the cause of myelopathy and those patients where myelopathy is due to compression of spinal cord are recommended surgery. Our spine surgeon is expert in operating both front and back of neck to relieve the pressure on spinal cords.