Spinal Cord Compression - A Serious Disorder Requiring Immediate Treatment

Spinal cord compression may not sound like a very serious problem, but for the people who suffer from this disorder of the nervous system, life can be very difficult. There are a number of types of compression of the spinal cord, and, although it is not as common as some other causes of back pain, it needs to be treated very quickly upon onset in order to minimize the risk of permanent damage to the nervous system and loss of functioning leading to partial or complete paralysis.

There are numerous causes of compression to the spinal nerve. Lesions are often the culprit, although lesions that occur outside the spinal cord are more common than ones occurring within it. Trauma can also cause compressive forces which lead to injury. Tumors and abscesses are another cause which may lead to pain developing over several days or weeks. A ruptured disc can also cause compression, as can protrusions of bone or cartilage into the spinal canal.

The medical community currently recognizes three different types of spinal cord compression. The first is acute compression, which may develop within hours, usually after a traumatic incident involving the spine, such as a fracture of the spinal bones. Subacute disorders may develop over days or weeks as a result of a tumor, abscess, or ruptured disc. And finally, chronic compression can develop gradually over months or years as bone or cartilage protrudes and places pressure on the spinal cord. Tumor growth may also cause chronic pressure on the spine.

The first sign of these kinds of neurological disorders is pain, often in the back, but which may also radiate down the pathway of a particular nerve. Nerves branch out of the spinal column at various levels into different parts of the body. Radiated pain down the arm, for example, may indicate compression at a specific level of the upper spine, where pain felt down the outside of the leg would indicate a different source of the problem. Where people feel the pain can often help doctors determine the source of the problem.

Cord compression can progress to a more serious point where motor skills begin to deteriorate, or where feeling and sensation begin to be lost at various part of the body. When this happens, the compression may be progressing to where it is irreversible. If the loss of feeling or movement has been recent, doctors may be able to reverse the damage, but the longer treatment is delayed, the more likely the loss of nervous system functioning will be permanent.

Treatment for spinal column compression is focused on reducing the pressure on the spinal nerve. This can be done numerous ways, depending on what is causing the disorder in the first place. Spinal decompression treatments from a chiropractor may help, as may adjustments to treat subluxations of the vertebrae. Drugs and medications may be used for tumors or abscesses, and back surgery may be helpful for some extreme cases. But it is always important to begin treatment as soon as possible after symptoms arise in order to have the best chance at avoiding permanent damage.