Do you feel tingling in your arms or legs? Do you have trouble with your balance or buttoning your shirt? These small signs can be early clues of a problem called cervical myelopathy, which is a spinal cord compression in the neck.
Since the spinal cord helps control strength, coordination, feeling (sensation) and walking, it's important to pay attention to these signs. At Banner Health, our spine experts use special imaging and tests to understand your condition, create a treatment plan to keep your spinal cord safe and help you stay mobile.
Cervical myelopathy is a condition that happens when the spinal cord in the neck area gets compressed. The word "cervical" refers to the neck part of the spine. "Myelopathy" means that the spinal cord isn't working normally.
The spinal cord is the main pathway that connects your brain to your body. It sends signals that help control movement, sensation, balance and coordination. When space around the spinal cord becomes narrower, these signals don’t travel properly.
Unlike some neck conditions that affect just one nerve, cervical myelopathy affects the spinal cord itself. Since the spinal cord controls many parts of the body, people with this condition often have symptoms in both their arms and legs.
Cervical myelopathy can also be called cervical spinal cord compression, degenerative cervical myelopathy or cervical spondylotic myelopathy.
Cervical myelopathy symptoms often develop slowly and may get worse over time. At first the symptoms can be hard to notice, so many people don’t realize there is a problem, especially if they don’t have much neck pain.
General symptoms may include:
Changes in hand function are often one of the earliest signs. You might see that your hands don’t move as easily as they did before.
Examples include:
Pressure on the spinal cord can affect the signals that help you keep your balance. Some people say they feel like they can’t trust their balance, even if they don’t feel dizzy.
You may notice:
As the condition progresses, walking may become slower or require more effort.
Walking changes may include:
Myelopathy often shows signs through hand and walking problems that don't seem related, rather than pain alone. If you notice changes in how your hands work, your balance or walking (even without neck pain), you should see your doctor.
Cervical myelopathy develops when something places ongoing pressure on the spinal cord in your neck region. The most common cause is due to age-related changes in the neck.
Possible causes include:
Several conditions can lead to numbness, weakness or pain in the neck, arms or hands. While they might have similar symptoms, cervical myelopathy is different because it affects the spinal cord. This often causes problems with hand movement, balance and walking, not just pain.
A pinched nerve, also called cervical radiculopathy, happens when a nerve leaving the spinal cord gets compressed. It often causes:
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve is compressed at the wrist. It typically causes:
These terms are connected but mean different things. Cervical spinal stenosis is when the space around the spinal cord in the neck becomes narrower. Cervical myelopathy happens when this narrowing places pressure on the spinal cord and affects how it works. Many people have cervical spinal stenosis but do not develop myelopathy.
Your health care provider will ask about your symptoms and perform a thorough physical and neurological examination. During the exam, they may check:
Your provider may recommend imaging or other tests to locate where the spinal cord is being compressed. Tests may include:
Learn more about spine testing and diagnosis.
Treatment depends on:
Nonsurgical treatments may help relieve discomfort but generally do not remove pressure from the spinal cord.
Depending on your situation, your provider may recommend:
Doctors usually suggest surgery if cervical myelopathy gets worse or if it heavily compresses the spinal cord.
The goal of surgery is to:
There are a few surgical procedures. It may include one or a combination of the following:
Your spine surgeon will recommend the procedure that best matches your anatomy and symptoms. Learn more about spine surgery types and treatments.
Many people feel better after surgery, especially if it is done before serious spinal cord damage happens. Recovery times are different for everyone and some problems may take months to improve.
Talk to your health care provider if you notice symptoms of cervical myelopathy. If you have already been diagnosed, let your provider know if the symptoms you experience worsen or if you notice side effects of treatment.
Seek urgent medical care if you have:
Banner Health’s spine specialists provide comprehensive care for conditions affecting the neck and spinal cord. They use the latest technology and evidence-based care while focusing on compassionate, tailored plans that are unique to each patient.
Your care team may include:
Make an appointment or request a second opinion today to see a Banner Health specialist.
Cervical myelopathy occurs when pressure on the spinal cord in the neck affects normal spinal cord function. It can cause problems with the hands, arms, legs, balance and walking.
Yes. If it’s not treated, cervical myelopathy symptoms can get worse over time and might cause permanent nerve damage.
Early signs can include hand clumsiness, dropping things, changes in writing, numbness or tingling, balance issues or changes in walking.
Yes. Some people have little or no neck pain. Problems with hand coordination, balance or walking might be more noticeable.
Myelopathy affects the spinal cord. A pinched nerve usually affects a single nerve root and causes symptoms in a specific part of the arm or hand.
No. Cervical stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal. Myelopathy means the spinal cord is being affected. Stenosis can cause myelopathy but not everyone with stenosis has spinal cord symptoms.
Surgery is not always needed but it is often considered if symptoms are serious or getting worse. The main goal of surgery is to relieve pressure on the spinal cord and stop further nerve damage. The best treatment depends on the symptoms, exam results and imaging tests.
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