D Spine Clinic provides specialist assessment and cervical myelopathy treatment in Mumbai for patients with spinal cord compression in the neck causing problems such as hand clumsiness, weakness, numbness, loss of balance or difficulty walking.
Cervical myelopathy is different from ordinary neck pain or a pinched nerve. It affects the spinal cord itself. Dr Dhanish Mehendiratta assesses the patient’s neurological symptoms, examination findings and imaging before deciding whether monitoring, rehabilitation or surgery is appropriate.
When Should Cervical Myelopathy Be Suspected?
The first signs are not always neck pain. Some patients first notice that their hands are becoming less coordinated or that their walking has changed.
Common cervical myelopathy symptoms include:
- Numbness or tingling in the hands or arms
- Weakness or stiffness in the arms or legs
- Difficulty buttoning clothes, writing or handling small objects
- Reduced grip or hand coordination
- Unsteady walking or loss of balance
- Frequent falls
- Neck pain or stiffness in some patients
- Electric shock-like sensations with neck movement
- Bladder or bowel changes in more severe cases
New or worsening weakness, increasing difficulty walking, repeated falls or bladder and bowel changes need prompt medical assessment.
What Causes Cervical Myelopathy?
In adults, cervical myelopathy commonly develops when degenerative changes reduce the space available for the spinal cord.
Important cervical myelopathy causes include:
- Cervical Spondylosis (Age-related Degeneration)
- Disc Herniation or Bulging Disc
- Thickened Ligaments (Ligamentum Flavum Hypertrophy)
- Bone Spurs (Osteophytes)
- Spinal Canal Narrowing (Stenosis)
- Congenital Narrow Spinal Canal
Trauma or Injury to the Neck can also damage or compress the cervical spinal cord, although traumatic spinal cord injury follows a different clinical pathway from degenerative cervical myelopathy.
Cervical Myelopathy Assessment at D Spine Clinic
Diagnosis starts with a neurological examination rather than the scan alone.
Dr Dhanish assesses hand strength and dexterity, sensation, reflexes, muscle tone, balance and walking. Symptoms in both the arms and legs are particularly important because they can point towards spinal cord involvement rather than an isolated nerve problem.
Imaging and Diagnostic Tests
- MRI
MRI is the main investigation used to assess the cervical spinal cord, discs, spinal canal and areas of compression. - X-rays
These can provide information about alignment, degeneration and movement between cervical vertebrae. - CT Scan
CT may be useful when more detailed assessment of the bone anatomy is required.
Other investigations are used selectively when symptoms could have another neurological cause.
Spinal cord compression on an MRI does not automatically mean that a patient has cervical myelopathy or needs surgery. The scan must be interpreted together with the neurological examination and symptoms.
Cervical Myelopathy Treatment at D Spine Clinic
Treatment depends on how much spinal cord dysfunction is present and whether symptoms are stable or progressing.
Non-Surgical Management
Selected patients with mild and stable cervical myelopathy may be managed with close clinical follow-up and supervised rehabilitation.
Treatment can include:
- Advice on activity and neck care
- Medication for associated pain where needed
- Supervised physiotherapy or rehabilitation
- Regular neurological review for any progression
Non-surgical treatment does not remove structural spinal cord compression. If neurological function begins to worsen, the treatment plan needs to be reassessed.
When Is Surgery Considered?
Surgery is commonly considered for moderate or severe cervical myelopathy and when neurological symptoms are progressing.
Reasons to consider cervical myelopathy treatment surgery include:
- Increasing hand weakness or loss of dexterity
- Progressive walking or balance difficulty
- Significant spinal cord compression with clinical myelopathy
- Worsening neurological findings
- Failure of an appropriate monitored non-surgical approach in selected mild cases
The main objective of surgery is to relieve pressure on the spinal cord and reduce the risk of further neurological deterioration. Some patients also regain strength, balance or hand function, but the degree of recovery varies.
Surgical Options for Cervical Myelopathy
The operation depends on where the spinal cord is compressed, the number of levels involved, cervical alignment and whether instability is present.
Procedures may include:
Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF)
The compressed spinal cord is approached from the front of the neck, with removal of the affected disc and fusion of the treated level.
Cervical Disc Replacement
A motion-preserving disc replacement may be considered instead of fusion in carefully selected patients.
Posterior Decompression
Laminectomy or laminoplasty may be used when spinal cord compression involves multiple cervical levels.
Decompression with Fusion
Fusion may be added when instability, alignment or other structural factors make stabilisation necessary.
There is no single operation that is appropriate for every patient with cervical myelopathy.
Why Choose D Spine Clinic for Cervical Myelopathy?
- Cervical Spine Expertise:Dr Dhanish Mehendiratta has specialist experience in complex cervical decompression and fusion surgery.
- Neurological Assessment First:Symptoms, examination findings and MRI are reviewed together before treatment is recommended.
- Different Surgical Approaches:Anterior, posterior, fusion and motion-preserving options are considered according to the level and pattern of compression.
- Second Opinions:Patients already advised cervical spine surgery can consult for review of their scans and surgical plan.
Consult Dr Dhanish Mehendiratta for Cervical Myelopathy
Dr Dhanish Vinod Mehendiratta is an Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon with specialist training in cervical and lumbar spine surgery.
His fellowships include training with the Association of Spine Surgeons of India at Hinduja Hospital, AO Spine at the Indian Spinal Injuries Centre and Nottingham University Hospitals in the United Kingdom.
Patients looking for a cervical myelopathy treatment doctor can consult Dr Dhanish for neurological assessment, review of MRI findings, treatment planning and second opinions before cervical spine surgery.
For patients searching for the best spine surgeon in Mumbai or the best cervical spondylosis treatment doctor, D Spine provides specialist cervical spine assessment backed by dedicated spine training and experience in spinal cord decompression and cervical surgery.
D Spine also provides a cervical myelopathy service in Mumbai covering diagnosis, non-surgical management where appropriate, surgical planning and post-treatment follow-up.
Book a Cervical Myelopathy Consultation
Consult Dr Dhanish Mehendiratta if you have progressive hand weakness, reduced coordination, balance or walking problems, cervical spinal cord compression on MRI, or have already been advised surgery.
FAQ's
Medical Disclaimer
The information on this page is intended for general patient education and does not replace a medical consultation, diagnosis or individual treatment advice. Suitability for artificial disc replacement depends on a patient’s symptoms, clinical examination, imaging and overall spinal condition. Treatment recommendations may vary from person to person.
