Causes of Spinal Cord Compression and treatment - Rajahmundry

One of the most common causes of spinal cord compression is the gradual wear and tear on the bones of the spine. This is known as osteoarthritis. People who develop spinal cord compression from this are usually older than 50.

Other conditions that may cause spinal cord compression can develop more quickly, even very suddenly. These can occur at any age:

Abnormal spine alignment (scoliosis)

Injury to the spine

Spinal tumor

Certain bone diseases

Rheumatoid arthritis

Infection
Symptoms of spinal cord compression can develop quickly or slowly. It depends on the cause. Injuries may cause immediate symptoms. Tumors or infections may cause symptoms that develop over days or weeks. Wear and tear of the spine may take years to cause symptoms.

These are common symptoms:

Pain and stiffness in the neck, back, or lower back

Burning pain that spreads to the arms, buttocks, or down into the legs (sciatica)

Numbness, cramping, or weakness in the arms, hands, or legs

Loss of sensation in the feet

Trouble with hand or leg coordination

"Foot drop," weakness in a foot that causes a limp

Loss of sexual ability
Treatment depends on the cause and your symptoms. It may involve medicines, physical therapy, injections, and surgery. Except in cases of emergency, such as cauda equina syndrome or a broken back, surgery is usually the last resort.

Medicines may include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that relieve pain and swelling and steroid injections that reduce swelling.

In more acute spinal cord compression, high-dose steroids are used to save nerve cells until other treatment can be given.

Radiation therapy may be used to shrink tumors that are compressing the spinal cord.

Physical therapy may include exercises to strengthen your back, abdominal, and leg muscles. You may learn how to do activities more safely. Braces to support your back or a cervical collar may also be helpful.

For more information consult our expert Dr G Geetasravan