Recognize changes in hand coordination, balance, and walking—and understand your options.
 | CERVICAL MYELOPATHY Understanding
spinal cord
compression.Changes in your hands
or balance deserve attention. |  |
| More than neck painCervical myelopathy occurs when the spinal cord in the neck is compressed. Age-related changes, such as bone spurs or bulging discs, can narrow the space around the cord and affect signals to the arms and legs. | Symptoms to recognize- Clumsy hands or difficulty with buttons and handwriting
- Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the hands and arms
- Unsteadiness or difficulty walking
- Neck pain or stiffness
New or worsening symptoms deserve prompt medical evaluation. | A plan starts with evaluationYour specialist reviews your symptoms, strength, reflexes, and walking. MRI can show spinal cord compression. Treatment depends on severity and progression. | Selected mild casesSupervised nonsurgical care may help symptoms, with close follow-up. It does not remove pressure on the spinal cord. | Surgical decompressionSurgery may be recommended to relieve pressure and help prevent further neurological decline. | An individual approachThe procedure depends on where compression occurs and whether the spine also needs stabilization. |
| Let’s talk about your next step.Contact Olympia Neurological Institute to discuss an evaluation for cervical myelopathy. olympiadoctors.com | Austin
4207 James Casey Street
Suite 111
Austin, TX 78745 | Georgetown
1502 Blue Ridge Drive
Suite 301
Georgetown, TX 78626 |
Fax: 800-347-7118 | Treatment suitability, benefits, and risks vary. An individual medical evaluation is needed to determine the right approach. |
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