brain, spinal cord, and nerve disorders
Compression of the Spinal Cord
Symptoms of Spinal Cord Compression
Slight compressionmay cause mild symptoms if it disrupts only some nerve impulses going up and down the spinal cord. These symptoms may include Discomfort or pain in the back or neck Slight muscle weakness Tingling or other changes in sensation Other changes in sensation In men, difficulty initiating and maintaining an erection ( Erectile Dysfunction (ED) ) If the spinal cord in the low back is compressed, pain may radiate down a leg, sometimes to the foot. If the spinal cord in the neck is affected, pain may radiate down the arms. If the cause is cancer, an abscess, or a hematoma, the back or neck may be tender to the touch in the affected area. Sometimes sensation is lost. Reflexes, including the urge to urinate, may be lost. If compression increases, symptoms may worsen. Substantial compressionmay block most nerve impulses, causing Severe muscle weakness Numbness Retention of urine Loss of bladder and bowel control If all nerve impulses are blocked, the following result: Paralysis (which can cause problems with breathing if the spinal cord in the neck is compressed) Complete loss of sensation in the area controlled by the part of the spinal cord below the compressed part Once compression begins to cause symptoms, the damage can worsen, depending on the cause, within minutes or over hours to days. 