What is the Difference Between Cervical Radiculopathy and Myelopathy

The key difference between cervical radiculopathy and myelopathy is that cervical radiculopathy occurs when a nerve in the neck is compressed or irritated and branches away from the spinal cord, while cervical myelopathy is a result of the compression of the spinal cord in the neck.

The spinal cord is a long tube-like band of tissue. It connects the brain to the lower back and carries nerve signals from the brain to the rest of the body. These nerve signals help people to feel sensations and help the movement of the body. Cervical radiculopathy and myelopathy are two nerve-related medical conditions affecting the neck or spinal cord.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Cervical Radiculopathy 
3. What is Cervical Myelopathy
4. Similarities – Cervical Radiculopathy and Myelopathy
5. Cervical Radiculopathy vs Myelopathy in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Cervical Radiculopathy vs Myelopathy

What is Cervical Radiculopathy?

Cervical radiculopathy occurs when a nerve in the neck is compressed or irritated and branches away from the spinal cord. It is also known as a pinched nerve. It is the change in the way a nerve works due to the compression of one of the nerve roots near the cervical vertebrae. Damage to these nerve roots can cause pain and loss of sensation along the pathway of the nerve into the arm and hand.

The main causes of cervical radiculopathy include degenerative changes and injury (trauma). The other less common causes are infections in the spine, tumors in the spine, benign and non-cancerous growth in the spine, and sarcoidosis (growth of inflammatory cells). The risk factors that raise the probability of getting cervical radiculopathy include being white-skinned, smoking cigarettes, experiencing prior radiculopathy, lifting heavy items, driving equipment that vibrates, and playing golf.

The symptoms of cervical radiculopathy include pain that spreads into the arms, neck, chest, upper back, and shoulders, sensory issues (numbness or tingling in fingers or hands), and motor problems (muscle weakness, lack of coordination, or loss of reflexes in the arms or legs). Cervical radiculopathy can be diagnosed through X-ray, CT scan, MRI, and electromyography. Furthermore, the treatments for cervical radiculopathy include medications (corticosteroids), physical therapy, and surgery to relieve the pressure.

What is Cervical Myelopathy?

Cervical myelopathy is a result of the compression of the spinal cord in the neck. The causes of cervical myelopathy include normal wear and tear of everyday life, injury to the neck, and diseases such as arthritis and tumor. The symptoms of cervical myelopathy may include pain, numbness, weakness or tingling, difficulty in walking, weakness in the lower extremities, loss of balance, loss of coordination in the arms, hands, or legs, dexterity problems, handwriting deterioration, and loss of fine motor skills.

Cervical myelopathy can be diagnosed through physical examination, MRI scan, X-ray, CT myelogram, and electrical tests. Furthermore, treatments for cervical myelopathy include physical therapy,  cervical collar braces, and surgery.

What are the Similarities Between Cervical Radiculopathy and Myelopathy?

• Cervical radiculopathy and myelopathy are two nerve-related medical conditions affecting the neck or spinal cord.
• Both medical conditions can occur due to a tumor.
• Both medical conditions may have similar symptoms, such as sensory issues and motor issues.
• They can be treated by physical therapy and surgery.

What is the Difference Between Cervical Radiculopathy and Myelopathy?

Cervical radiculopathy occurs when a nerve in the neck is compressed or irritated and branches away from the spinal cord, while cervical myelopathy is a result of the compression of the spinal in the neck. Thus, this is the key difference between cervical radiculopathy and myelopathy. Furthermore, cervical radiculopathy can occur due to degenerative changes, injury, infections in the spine, tumors in the spine, benign and non-cancerous growth in the spine, and sarcoidosis. On the other hand, cervical myelopathy can occur due to normal wear and tear of everyday life, injury to the neck, and diseases such as arthritis and tumor.

The below infographic presents the differences between cervical radiculopathy and myelopathy in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Cervical Radiculopathy vs Myelopathy

Cervical radiculopathy and myelopathy are two nerve-related medical conditions that affect the neck or spinal cord. Cervical radiculopathy occurs when a nerve in the neck is compressed or irritated and branches away from the spinal cord, while cervical myelopathy is a result of the compression of the spinal cord in the neck. So, this is the key difference between cervical radiculopathy and myelopathy

Reference:

1. “Cervical Radiculopathy: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment.” WebMD.
2. “Cervical Myelopathy.” Johns Hopkins Medicine, 8 Aug. 2021.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Projectional radiograph of cervical foraminal stenosis, annotated” By Mikael Häggström – Own work (CC0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Compressive myeolopathy C6C7” By Jmarchn – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia