Spinal cord disorders, or myelopathies, are conditions that damage the cord, the bundle of nerve pathways running inside the spine. The cause may be compression from worn discs and bone, inflammation, poor blood supply, tumour, vitamin deficiency or injury.
The cord heals poorly, so treatment mainly aims to stop further damage. Early diagnosis is what protects walking, hand function and bladder control.
Symptome
- Clumsy hands and difficulty with buttons
- Stiff, heavy or unsteady legs
- Numbness with a level on the trunk or a band-like tightness
- Urinary urgency, retention or constipation
- Electric shock sensation on bending the neck
- Neck or back pain, though this is often absent
- Erectile dysfunction
Ursachen und Risikofaktoren
The commonest cause in adults over 50 is degenerative cervical myelopathy, where age-related narrowing of the neck squeezes the cord. Other causes are disc prolapse, tumours inside or around the cord, transverse myelitis from MS or NMOSD, infection and abscess, spinal vascular malformations, cord stroke, B12 or copper deficiency, syringomyelia and trauma.
Wie es diagnostiziert wird
- Neurological examination: Brisk reflexes, spasticity and a sensory level point to the cord.
- MRI of the whole spine: The essential test, with contrast when inflammation or tumour is suspected.
- Blood tests: B12, copper, infection screen and aquaporin-4 and MOG antibodies.
- Lumbar puncture: When inflammation or infection is possible.
- Evoked potentials or spinal angiography: For selected cases, such as a suspected dural fistula.
Behandlungsmöglichkeiten
- Surgical decompression: Anterior discectomy and fusion, laminectomy or laminoplasty for moderate or progressive compressive myelopathy.
- Tumour removal: Microsurgery with nerve monitoring.
- Steroids and immune therapy: For myelitis.
- Embolisation or surgery: To close a spinal dural fistula.
- Vitamin replacement: For deficiency myelopathy.
- Rehabilitation: Spasticity, bladder, bowel and skin management.
Wenn es dringend ist
Sudden or rapidly worsening leg weakness, numbness around the saddle area, or new inability to pass urine is an emergency. Go to the nearest hospital for an MRI the same day; hours count.
Reisen nach Türkiye zur Behandlung
Planned decompression for cervical myelopathy or removal of a benign spinal tumour is suitable for travel, with a stay of 10 to 14 days, as is a second opinion on MRI findings. Acute cord problems must be treated where you are, and rehabilitation after cord injury takes months.
Senden Sie Ihre Berichte, Scans und eine kurze Geschichte und eine Clinic-Y Koordinator Antworten innerhalb von 24 Stunden mit geeigneten Teams und schriftlich, All-inclusive Vorschläge nebeneinander. Die Überprüfung Ihres Falls ist kostenlos.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
Will surgery reverse my symptoms?
The main goal is to stop deterioration. Many people improve somewhat, more so when symptoms have been present for under a year.
My MRI shows narrowing but I feel fine. Do I need surgery?
Not necessarily. Narrowing without symptoms is often monitored.
Do stem cells repair the spinal cord?
Not reliably. No stem cell therapy is established for cord injury, and commercial offers should be treated as experimental.