Cervical Myelopathy Treatment
Learn the conservative (non-surgical) and surgical approaches that are available to treat cervical spondylotic myelopathy.
Most episodes of neck pain are due to muscle strain or soft tissue sprain (ligaments, tendons), but it can also be caused by a sudden force (whiplash). These types of neck pain often improve with time and non-surgical care such as medication and chiropractic manipulation. But if neck pain continues or worsens, there is often a specific condition that requires treatment, such as cervical degenerative disc disease, cervical herniated disc, cervical stenosis, or cervical arthritis.
Learn the conservative (non-surgical) and surgical approaches that are available to treat cervical spondylotic myelopathy.
There are several symptoms of cervical spinal arthritis that differentiate it from other cases of osteoarthritis.
Cervical osteophytes are not painful, but if they impinge on the spinal cord or nearby nerve roots, vertebral discs, or blood vessels, symptoms such as radicular pain, neck stiffness, headaches, and dysphagia may arise.
If bone spurs become symptomatic, there are several non-surgical treatments that can alleviate symptoms including physical therapy, heat and ice therapy, pain medication, and chiropractic manipulation.
Cervical spondylotic myelopathy is painless in over 50% of patients, but other symptoms may be present, such as weakness, numbness, or clumsiness of the extremities.