Cervical myelopathy is the medical term for dysfunction of the spinal cord in the neck. Patients with cervical myelopathy typically struggle to use their hands like they are used to; activities like buttoning up shirts or tying shoelaces can become progressively difficult. Problems balancing oneself and walking normally and leg weakness are also common, along with neck pain and stiffness.

Cervical myelopathy is suspected when these symptoms affect both sides of the body and have lasted a long time without improvement. Causes are usually degenerative, which means natural wear-and-tear of the spine (causing compression of the spinal cord) that happens as we age, but this is always confirmed with an MRI scan. If caught early the prognosis is typically good, but due to the nature of this condition minimally invasive surgical intervention is often necessary to provide definitive and lasting symptomatic relief.

Read our guide to cervical myelopathy, explaining in more detail how spinal cord compression develops, the symptoms it may cause, and when surgical treatment may be required.