Key Points about Lumbar Myelopathy
- Lumbar myelopathy occurs when the spinal cord is compressed.
- Lumbar myelopathy is diagnosed using imaging tests and electrical studies.
- The most common treatment for lumbar myelopathy is decompression surgery.
Lumbar myelopathy causes
The various causes of lumbar myelopathy include:
- Bone spur
- Cyst or hematoma in the spine
- Degenerative spine conditions, such as spinal stenosis (narrowing of the bones of the spine that compresses the spinal nerves)
- Herniated disc
- Rheumatoid arthritis in the spine
- Spinal injury or infection
- Spinal tumor, including bone cancer
Lumbar myelopathy risk factors
If you have any of the following conditions, your risk developing lumbar myelopathy may increase:
- Bone cancer or a spinal tumor
- Herniated disc
- Rheumatoid arthritis in your spine
- Spinal stenosis
- Spine infection
- Traumatic spinal injury
Lumbar myelopathy symptoms
Signs and symptoms of lumbar myelopathy include:
- Difficulty with coordination
- Difficulty with fine motor skills, such as holding a pen to write or using a zipper
- Pain in the neck, arm, leg or lower back
- Tingling, numbness or weakness
- Trouble keeping your balance
- Trouble walking
- Urinary or stool incontinence
Lumbar myelopathy diagnosis
Your specialist may use the following tests to diagnose your lumbar myelopathy:
X-ray. Your specialist may order an X-ray to rule out any other conditions that can cause similar symptoms.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Your doctor may order an MRI to obtain a detailed image of your spine and spinal cord.
Electrical tests. Your specialist may order an electrical test – such as an electromyogram or somatosensory evoked potentials – to check how well your nerves are working.
Lumbar myelopathy treatment
Your doctor may recommend one or more of the following treatments for your lumbar myelopathy:
Medication. Your specialist may recommend medications to help relieve pain associated with your lumbar myelopathy.
Physical therapy. You may work with a physical therapist to help you how to more easily complete daily tasks. As part of this, you may need to wear a brace.
Spinal decompression surgery. In this procedure, your specialist removes the cause of your lumbar myelopathy, such as a bone spur or herniated disc.
Laminoplasty. In this treatment for more advanced types of myelopathy, your specialist widens the space through which your spinal cord passes. This helps to relieve pain and other symptoms.
When should I seek care?
If you experience any of these symptoms, start by voicing your concerns and symptoms to your primary care provider. From there, your doctor may suggest seeing a spine specialist for more specialized treatment.