Delayed Diagnosis of Cervical Myelopathy
Cervical myelopathy can develop slowly over time or much more quickly. If diagnosis is delayed, the patient can suffer permanent debilitating symptoms.
Functional loss due to cervical myelopathy
Compression of the nerves in the cervical region of the spine, running down the neck, can be a very serious matter, which is likely to get worse over time. As the nerves become increasingly squashed, the functions which they perform will be gradually lost.
Symptoms of loss of function of the nerves in the cervical spine can begin in a fairly minor way such as tingling in the fingers or a slight weakness in the hand which might affect a person's grip of a pen or a plate.
As time passes, however, these symptoms can deteriorate to include the following:
- Difficulties with mobility and balance, making walking problematic
- Numbness of the hands causing inability to carry out a range of daily activities such as dressing or cooking
- Shooting pains in the legs which can become very sensitive and painful to touch
- Pain in the neck and arms
Ultimately, the loss of function can cause problems controlling the bladder.
Impact on daily living
The above symptoms will inevitably impact on a person's ability to live a normal life. Loss of ability to grip, loss of co-ordination and lack of mobility will all make working, travelling and undertaking general household chores extremely difficult if not impossible.
The patient may become unable to work and may even require carers to help them maintain their independence.
They may require changes to their living accommodation in order to function on a daily basis.
Urgent diagnosis
Clearly, a timely diagnosis of this condition is essential. Although the condition can deteriorate slowly in some patients and the early symptoms may not cause significant problems, in others a delay of a few weeks can make a significant and destructive difference.
A patient developing cervical myelopathy is likely to need surgery to the cervical spine at some point to decompress the affected nerves and a delay in treatment may mean a significant reduction in recovery of function.
A patient with symptoms of cervical myelopathy needs to undergo tests and possibly an urgent MRI scan to assess the cause of their symptoms.
Diagnosing cervical myelopathy
As well as ascertaining a thorough picture of the patient's symptoms, the GP or A&E practitioner may undertake a range of tests to assess any loss of neurological function.
This could include the following:
- Observing the patient walking to assess their level of control
- Testing movement in the fingers and hands
- Assessing muscle tone in the legs, which may have increased
- Testing reflexes in knees and ankles
Although cervical myelopathy usually develops in people over 50 due to degenerative changes in the spine as we age, it can occur in people significantly younger, perhaps due to trauma to the spine, and the symptoms associated with the condition should not be misinterpreted due to the youth of the patient.
Medical negligence
A failure to recognise the symptoms of cervical myelopathy or a misunderstanding of the possible severity of the long-term impact, leading to a delay in diagnosis and treatment, may be regarded as having been medically negligent.
If you or a loved one are suffering the permanent effects of this debilitating disease due to a failure to respond promptly to your symptoms, it may be possible to make a claim for compensation.
Contact Glynns Solicitors, specialists in medical negligence, to discuss your situation with an experienced solicitor.
Call us free on 0800 234 3300 (or from a mobile 01275 334030) or complete our Online Enquiry Form.
Make An Enquiry
Why Choose Us
- Specialist medical negligence solicitors
- Free initial enquiries
- No win, no fee available
Reviews
"I would like to say a big thank you to you for making this whole process easy and relatively painless. You kept me informed throughout and you were always polite and courteous in all forms of communication. I would not hesitate to recommend you to friends and family, so a really big thank you and I wish you all the best in the future."
Mr A.
Our Expertise
Helping Clients Across England & Wales
Free Medical Negligence Guide
'7 Questions You Must Ask Before Choosing A Medical Negligence Solicitor'