The Schafer Law Office

Myelopathy from a Car Accident?

You have been injured in a Kentucky car accident, your back hurts.  You have been to the doctor and been x-rayed.  Your medical records state that you are suffering from myelopathy.  What does this mean?

Myelopathy refers to any functional disturbance and/or a disorder in which the tissue of the spinal cord is diseased or damaged. It can range from impaired sensation/movement and muscle weakness to paralysis and loss of organ function. Significant damage to the spine can cause complete paralysis or incomplete paralysis.

Complete myelopathy is when the spinal injury results in no sensation below its origin.  The victim would not feel his legs and could not walk; he might also have loss of bladder control and bowel function.  It is termed complete because nothing below the injury works.  With incomplete myelopathy, some functions below the spinal injury may be unaffected or only affected partially.

Sudden spinal trauma, such as automobile accidents, or cause symptoms of myelopathy. Mostly this occurs later in life when one's body balance and coordination slows.   

The only treatment for myelopathy is surgery to decompress the spine.  This is done to slow down or stop the stenosis (which is the narrowing or tightening of the spinal canal) from progressing.  However, this is just offered as an early option to relieve the pressure in the nerves.  One should be weighed against the risk of the surgery.  Pain management is another solution.