Myelopathy
Myelopathy is a collective term for any spinal cord malfunction of a various origin. The spinal canal functioning is essential for our well-being. If massive pressure constantly occurs on the cord, then the tissues there loses it’svitality, and over time this leads to the death of the tissue. If treatment is not provided, this can lead to fatal consequences, since nerve cells in this area cannot regenerate or multiply. According to the professional opinion of the doctors in Orlando Medical Center “Touch of Health”, men suffer from myelopathy much more frequently than women.
Causes
Myelopathy can develop due a range of various conditions. The trauma to the nerve pathways and nerve roots can occur because of traumatic circumstances (e.g. an accident, intervertebral hernia, fall), and also due to tissue changes during/after inflammation, as well as tumors and cysts. There are several different types of myelopathy. It is essential to identify which type it is exactly to provide efficient medical care of myelopathy.
Symptoms
The first signs of myelopathy may involve sensory disturbances in the hands or soles of the feet, awkwardness in the hands, and struggles with walking in the dark. The other signs indicating the disease are the following: lack of physical strength, numbness, fine motor dysfunction, stiffness, tissue atrophy and breathing difficulties.
Surgery
The real source of myelopathy can only be eliminated by operational treatment. It is aimed at giving the cord and nerves more space again. Orlando Medical Center “Touch of Health” performs the following surgeries as a part of the treatment:
- Widening of a spinal canal;
- Endoprosthesis of the disk;
- Dorsal stabilization;
- Vertebral body replacement.
Treatment
Conservative treatment must be a part of the therapy for a proper medical care. Only at an early stage of myelopathy, mild aching can be treated with medications. More intense symptoms require targeted pain management which includes NSAIDs and other drugs.
Result of Treatment
Our medical practice shows that 90% of myelopathy patients improve their condition quickly after treatment. Of course, it helps when myelopathy is detected at its earliest. Competent complex treatment allows achieving remission, improving neurological parameters and general quality of life.
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Dr. Mark Biondi was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa. At the age of three, his parents relocated to Merritt Island, so he has spent most of his life on the Space Coast and around Central Florida. He attended Merritt Island High where he developed an early interest in athletic training and sports medicine that would later lead him to pursue a career as a Chiropractic Physician. He attended Brevard Community College (now Eastern Florida State College) and the University of Central Florida. He then enrolled at Logan University, College of Chiropractic Medicine, where he received his Doctorate of Chiropractic degree.
Dr. Michael A. Thomas is a board-certified neurosurgeon who practices general neurosurgery with a specialty in minimally invasive spine surgery, skull base and endoscopic brain surgery. He treats conditions and diseases affecting the nervous system, which includes the brain, spine, spinal cord, and the peripheral nerves. Dr. Thomas has been referred to as a patient-focused professional and a conscientious and skilled neurosurgeon by his colleagues. He is certified by the American Board of Osteopathic Surgeons with a Neurosurgical discipline and the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners.
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