Spinal Compression & Nerve Damage: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

According to Merck Medical Library, ongoing spinal compression can destroy nerve pathways. If you experience symptoms, contact your doctor. Prompt diagnosis and treatment can limit or prevent permanent damage.

Symptoms

• Nerve damage can cause muscle spasms, numbness and pain. Bowel and bladder control may be lost. Paralysis develops when nerves are so damaged that signals cannot be transmitted.

Types

• According to the Mayo Clinic, both traumatic spinal injuries, with fractures and dislocations, and non-traumatic spinal injuries associated with arthritis, inflammation or infection, can cause spinal compression with nerve damage.

Tests

• The doctor performs basic neurological tests in the office. X-rays and MRIs may be ordered to locate points of compression.

Therapy

• The doctor may prescribe spinal decompression therapy using traction. Occupational therapy may also be prescribed to help you learn new ways of performing daily tasks.

Medication

• The doctor may prescribe steroids to fight inflammation and reduce progressive nerve damage. Medications to ease pain and muscle spasms may also be prescribed.

Surgery

• Spinal surgery removing bone fragments and ruptured disks might be necessary. The doctor may suggest you undergo a laminectomy to remove bone from the spinal canal to ease pressure on the spinal cord.