Problems with Fine Motor Skills, Balance & Weakness in Limbs: Myelopathy
The term “myelopathy†refers to the loss of spinal cord activity as the result of sudden injury or the natural degeneration of the spine. It is necessary to t
reat myelopathy proactively to maintain your quality of life and prevent the dangerous deterioration of the spinal cord. If you believe you or a loved one may be experiencing myelopathy, schedule a consultation with one of our highly experienced spine surgeons today to prevent this serious condition from progressing.
CAUSES:
- Benign or cancerous tumors that compress the spinal cord
- Bone spurs
- A dislocation fracture
- A traumatic injury, as might occur during a motor vehicle accident, hard fall or high-impact sport
- Autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis
- Genetic predisposition or congenital abnormality
- Smoking
- Age (the elderly are especially likely to encounter myelopathy)
- The abuse of alcohol
- Excess weight or obesity
- Participating in intense sports or physical activities, such as gymnastics or football
- A lack of exercise
- Making repetitive, strenuous movements (often an issue at jobs requiring highly physical or manual labor)
- Improperly lifting heavy objects
SYMPTOMS:
- Pain in the shoulders and arms
- Tingling, numbness or “pins-and-needles†sensations in the arms and legs
- Trouble balancing, especially when attempting to walk
- A heavy feeling in the legs and an inability to move quickly
- Muscle weakness
- Difficulty writing
- Problems turning or bending the neck or back
- Lightheadedness
- Problems with hand-eye coordination, as you may notice when attempting to get dressed or perform other daily activities
- Irregular, spasmodic movements
- Changes in sexual functioning
- Bowel or bladder complications
- Fatigue or frailty in the limbs
- The feeling that the limbs are being shocked or electrified
TREATMENT:
At Elite Pain Care we provide a total body treatment plan that consists of 3 phases. In the 1st we focus on eliminating your pain and alleviating your symptoms. In the 2nd phase of your treatment plan we focus on rehabilitation with physical therapy to increase strength and flexibility. In the 3rd phase of treatment we provide overall wellness. Wellness care provides patients with preventative care and includes personal fitness training, nutritional counseling, postural improvements as well as stress and anxiety management.
Treatment plans include: Spina Adjustments, which aids in the proper alignment of vertebrae in the spine and remove pressure on nerve roots alleviating pain in the neck. Muscle stimulation to increase blood flow, enable faster recovery of muscle soreness, clears lactic acid and increases fresh oxygen and nutrients. Soft tissue therapy increases range of motion, increases flexibility, and it provides you with proper joint function. Physical therapy is a rehabilitation phase of your treatment where our goal is to increase strength, flexibility and range of motion of your joint.
