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Spinal cord compression

Spinal cord compression

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Spinal cord compression refers to physical compression of the cervical or thoracic spinal cord. This can occur from injury, infection or tumors. There is also chronic compression from stenosis (narrowing of the spinal confines). The symptoms and outcome vary depending on the cause and the location. Surgical decompression (removing the cause of the compression) is the mainstay of treatment.

Dr. Jefferson Chen reviewed this

36 year experience in Neurosurgery

Is a type of:

Nervous system diseases • Spinal cord injury • Central nervous system diseases • Cervical myelopathy

How long it usually lasts:

Medium-term (lasts weeks to months)

How common it is:

Rare

Body locations

Back

Symptoms

Back pain
Low blood pressure
Weak muscles
Increased reflexes
Sensory loss
Load more

Medications

Ratings show how effective doctors think these medications are at treating Spinal cord compression
Steroids

Procedures

Ratings show how effective doctors think these procedures are at treating Spinal cord compression

Surgery

Decompression
3.8
8 reviews

Other treatments

Immobilization
Supportive care

Tests

C reactive protein
Complete blood count

Risk factors

Personal

Injection drug use
Immunosuppression

Related questions

A 28-year old male asked:

What is the definition or description of: spinal cord compression?

2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in

A 47-year old asked:

Spinal cord compression treatment?

2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in

A 38-year old asked:

Can 12 months of spinal cord compression in the c5/6 and c6/7 cause permanent damage?

2 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in

A 41-year old female asked:

What is the difference between spinal cord compression & spinal stenosis? Can you have one without the either?

1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in

A 40-year old male asked:

I have spinal cord compression at level t10 to t12. I can take small steps not much at all. Would like more info on this and prognoses please.

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 38-year old asked:

Please tell me, could spinal cord compression cause psychosis?

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 28-year old female asked:

Is still classed as spinal cord compression if the cord is only pressed again anteriorly in flexion - with CSF space behind?

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 29-year old asked:

Can acupuncturist or chiropractor solve the problem of spinal cord compression?

3 doctor answers • 10 doctors weighed in

A 37-year old female asked:

Hi I have disc protrusion and spinal cord compression from C4 to t1. Is this serious and will i need surgery.

2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in

A 39-year old asked:

Can you tell me about spinal cord compression, radiculopathy and brachial neuritis. what I would like to know i?

1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in

A 22-year old female asked:

3mm herniated in both T6-T7 and T7-T8 with mild spinal cord compression . Also some of my thoracic disks are degenerated. Is this serious?

2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in

A 45-year old female asked:

What are symptoms of spinal cord compression? Neck and shoulder have been tight but improving with pt and mt. Dull sensation down 1 arm and leg .

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 41-year old female asked about a 39-year old female:

Is a 3mm spinal cord compression at C5-C6 significant enough to cause symptoms? R arm pain weakness limited ROM to the right dizziness

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 37-year old female asked:

I have cervical spinal cord compression due to a disc protrusion. I have had a headache today. Do i need to go to ER or just gp. When do I go to er?

2 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in

A 34-year old male asked:

Had an mri of my cervical spine done. Results says Mild disc bulge that abuts the right ventral surface of the thecal sac. Does this mean I have spinal cord compression ?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 61-year old female asked:

Correlation with C4-C6 spondy w/spinal cord compression &increase HR, breathlessness?I have chest&rhomboid pain.Fingers numb in the am. CT thorax OK.

3 doctor answers • 12 doctors weighed in

A 25-year old male asked:

I had an MRI 10 days after noticing leaking of urine and strange feelings in the rectum that showed a mild central disc extrusion at L5-S1 without spinal cord compression. I have incontinence and numbness in the groin/genital area. What is this?

2 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in

A 28-year old female asked:

Whats the difference between cervical spinal cord anterior abutment and cervical spinal cord anterior compression? Please thank you

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 32-year old asked:

The MRI says "severe" disc herniation and spinal cord swelling and compression" what does this mean?

2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in

A 31-year old female asked:

Spinal canal narrowing no cord compression seen on MRI but could this cause my sciatica pain to go all way down to near outside ankle of right foot?

3 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in

A 24-year old asked:

How can cancer cause compression of the spinal cord?

2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in

A 19-year old male asked:

Can spinal compression or vertebral fracture be reversed?

2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in

A 50-year old asked:

What is the best treatment for spinal compression?

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 28-year old female asked:

What does it mean when your spinal compression fractures are mild?

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 60-year old female asked:

Why does spinal chord compression cause increased reflexes?

1 doctor answer • 5 doctors weighed in

A 34-year old asked:

Which treatment for spinal compression fractures is the very best?

2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in

A 43-year old asked:

How can you prevent spinal compression at 80?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 16-year old male asked:

Is height lost after a compression spinal fracture regained after recovery?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 26-year old female asked:

GP called saying my MRI was normal but I have chronic spinal compression.I've been referred to a specialist. If it's compressed how is the MRI normal?

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 23-year old female asked:

Hi there I've been struggling with Spinal compression pain for 13yrs for 2yrs its crippling me from working x ray show L5 S1 no spine coushin should I go to a Rhuemologist or other specialists?

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

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