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Stanford Health Care

Treatments

How We Can Help You for Cervical Myelopathy and Radiculopathy

The doctors in the Stanford Medicine Spine Center excel at diagnosing and treating cervical myelopathy (pronounced "my-eh-LOP-uh-thee") and cervical radiculopathy (pronounced "rah-DIK-yoo-lop-uh-thee").

Cervical myelopathy results when the spinal cord within the neck is injured or compressed.

Cervical radiculopathy is similar, but rather than affecting the spinal cord, it affects the nerve roots in the cervical spine.

Stanford Medicine Spine Center provides the most advanced care available for both conditions. In addition, patients with cervical myelopathy or cervical radiculopathy may have opportunities to participate in research studies of new treatment approaches not yet available anywhere else.

What We Offer You for Cervical Myelopathy and Radiculopathy

  • Center of Excellence for advanced care of all spine-related conditions.
  • Nationally recognized expertise in treating all cases, no matter how complex.
  • Precise diagnosis options including the latest imaging technology and nerve studies.
  • Team-based treatment planning that brings together orthopaedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, physical therapists, and others to tailor care to your needs.
  • Advanced treatment options emphasizing noninvasive approaches whenever possible, including exercises, physical therapy, and medication therapy, and, when needed, spine surgery.
  • Comprehensive support services including care coordination from diagnosis to treatment to follow-up.
  • Active research program to develop new diagnostic and treatment advances.

Treatments for Cervical Myelopathy and Radiculopathy

The team members of the Stanford Medicine Spine Center use the most advanced techniques to effectively treat cervical myelopathy and radiculopathy.

We have experience with all treatment approaches and use minimally invasive techniques whenever possible.

Our team includes doctors from orthopaedics, rheumatology, physiatry, neurology, and other specialties, working together to help ensure you receive an accurate diagnosis and the most effective treatment possible.

We personalize care to your needs to help relieve your symptoms and get you back to doing the things you love.

Our treatments focus on:

  • Reducing pain, stiffness, and inflammation
  • Keeping your condition from getting worse
  • Helping you continue or resume doing your daily activities

Your doctor will recommend the best treatment for your specific condition.

 

To help relieve your symptoms, noninvasive treatments may include:

Factors considered when choosing a treatment include:

  • Your age
  • Your overall health and your medical history
  • The extent of the disease
  • The predicted course of the disease
  • Your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
  • Your opinion and preference
 
If your symptoms continue or get worse, your care team may recommend surgery to relieve the pressure on your nerves or spinal cord. Your doctor also may recommend surgical fusion of bones in the neck or replacement of the cervical disc. The cervical disc is removed to decompress the nerves for spinal cord with a disc replacement, which maintains motion. Whether you are a candidate for a fusion versus a disc replacement will depend on how extensive the nerve compression is.

 

Clinical Trials

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Open Clinical Trials

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Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate a new medical approach, device, drug, or other treatment. As a Stanford Health Care patient, you may have access to the latest clinical trials.

Open trials refer to studies that are currently recruiting participants or that may recruit participants in the near future.

Closed trials are not currently enrolling, but may open in the future.

What Are Cervical Myelopathy and Cervical Radiculopathy?

Cervical myelopathy and cervical radiculopathy are nerve-related conditions affecting the neck and/or spinal cord.

Cervical myelopathy is a condition where the spinal cord within the neck is injured or compressed.

In cervical radiculopathy, the nerve roots in the cervical spine are damaged.

These conditions may result from aging, injury, or other causes.

 

Treatment

Specific treatment for cervical myelopathy will be determined by your physician based on:

  • Your age, overall health, and medical history
  • Extent of the disease
  • Your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
  • Expectations for the course of the disease
  • Your opinion or preference

To help relieve the symptoms, treatment may include:

  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications
  • Physical therapy
  • If symptoms persist or worsen, surgery to relieve the pressure on the nerves/spinal cord and possible fusion of the parts of the neck may be suggested by your surgeon.

Our Clinics

Stanford Medicine Spine Center

The Stanford Medicine Spine Center is staffed by world-class spine specialists from neurosurgery and orthopaedics, who work together to offer you the world’s most advanced and effective treatment options—including those that don’t involve surgery. Our goal is to safely get you back to your normal lifestyle as soon as possible, and maintain long-term spinal health.

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To schedule an appointment, please call 650-725-1125.