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🧠 What is Cervical Disc Disease?
Cervical Disc Disease (also called Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease) occurs when intervertebral discs in the neck degenerate or herniate, resulting in:
- Loss of disc height
- Disc bulging or herniation
- Formation of bone spurs (osteophytes)
- Nerve root or spinal cord compression
🧠 What is Cervical Myelopathy?
Cervical Myelopathy is a progressive spinal cord dysfunction caused by compression of the spinal cord in the cervical spine. It is the most serious complication of cervical disc disease.
🔍 Causes
- Degenerative changes: Aging-related wear and tear (most common)
- Herniated disc: Disc material presses on the spinal cord
- Spinal stenosis: Narrowing of the spinal canal
- Trauma or injury
- Rheumatoid arthritis or other inflammatory diseases
- Congenital spinal canal narrowing
⚠️ Symptoms
Cervical Disc Disease:
- Neck pain or stiffness
- Radiating pain into shoulders, arms, or hands
- Numbness or tingling
- Muscle weakness in upper limbs
Cervical Myelopathy:
- Difficulty with fine motor skills (e.g., buttoning shirts)
- Gait instability or balance problems
- Weakness or stiffness in legs
- Clumsiness of hands
- Bladder or bowel dysfunction (in advanced cases)
🧪 Diagnosis
- MRI: Best for viewing spinal cord and disc pathology
- CT or X-rays: Evaluate bone changes and alignment
- Neurological exam: To assess motor, sensory, and reflex function
- EMG/NCS: May help differentiate between nerve root vs spinal cord issues
🛠️ Treatment Options
Non-Surgical:
- Medications: NSAIDs, muscle relaxants, corticosteroids
- Physical therapy
- Cervical collar (short-term use)
- Epidural steroid injections
Surgical:
Surgery is often required in moderate to severe myelopathy or if there is progressive neurological decline.
Common procedures include:
- Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF)
- Cervical disc replacement
- Laminectomy or laminoplasty (posterior decompression)
⚠️ Prognosis
- Early treatment can stabilize or improve function.
- Delayed treatment may lead to permanent spinal cord damage.
- Patients with mild myelopathy can sometimes be managed conservatively, but surgery is often necessary for moderate to severe cases.