Spinal Cord Diseases

The spinal cord can be damaged in many ways, producing various symptoms, depending on the location, or level, of spinal cord damage. The spinal cord can be cut in an accident, compressed, destroyed by infection, damaged when its blood supply is cut off, or affected by diseases (such as spinal cord cysts, cervical spondylosis, or multiple sclerosis) that alter its nerve function.

Follow the links below to find information on spinal cord diseases.

Reviewed June 2011

Related HealthInsite Topics

Spinal Cord Injuries

HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on spinal cord injuries.

12 Resources Found

Results 1 to 12 displayed.

Title:   Infantile spinal muscular atrophy
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Infantile spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an inherited genetic condition and is also known as Werdnig-Hoffman disease. The nerve cells that service the muscles don't work properly, causing muscle weakness and withering. There is no cure. Treatment can ease complications including pneumonia and breathing difficulties. A child with SMA rarely lives beyond three years.
Date:   Oct 2011
Title:   Brain tumours - cancer
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Brain and spinal cord tumours can be either malignant (cancerous) or benign (not cancerous). Cancerous brain tumours affect adults of all ages and are one of the few cancers that occur in children. Most brain tumours develop from glial cells (gliomas). Symptoms and treatment depend on which part of the brain is affected.
Date:   Jun 2011
Title:   Syringomyelia
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Syringomyelia is the formation of a fluid-filled cyst (syrinx) within the spinal cord. As the cyst grows, it presses on the spinal cord and interferes with the transmission of nerve impulses. Causes include trauma, infection and congenital brain defects.
Date:   May 2011
Title:   Cervical root disorders (cervical spondylotic myelopathy and radiculopathy)
Publisher:   Virtual Medical Centre.com
Description:   Cervical root disorder is a degenerative disease of the cervical nerve roots (spondylotic myelopathy) and/or spinal cord (cervical radiculopathy). Provides information on the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of the disorder.
Date:   Dec 2010
Title:   Brain & spinal cord tumours
Publisher:   The Cancer Council Victoria
Description:   Tumours that start in the brain are called primary brain tumours - some are benign and some are malignant, while spinal tumours are less common.
Date:   Aug 2008
Title:   Interventions for the treatment of metastatic extradural spinal cord compression in adults
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   Cancer that spreads to the spine can compress the spinal cord and nearby spinal structures. If this is not treated, it can lead to pain, disability (including paraplegia) and incontinence. Radiotherapy, steroids and different surgical techniques have be...
Date:   Aug 2008
Title:   Therapeutic exercise for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or motor neuron disease
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   Muscle weakness is very common in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). A weak muscle can be damaged if overworked, because it is already functioning close to its maximal limits. As a result of this, exercise programs for people with ALS may ...
Date:   Feb 2008
Title:   Spinal cord astrocytoma (tumour)
Publisher:   Virtual Medical Centre.com
Description:   Information on the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of astrocytoma of the spinal cord, a rare tumour that begins in the brain or spinal cord. Written by professional health specialists.
Date:   Feb 2008
Title:   Meningioma of the spinal cord
Publisher:   Virtual Medical Centre.com
Description:   Information on the symptoms, treatment and diagnosis of meningioma of the spinal cord by professional health specialists.
Date:   Feb 2008
Title:   Glioma of the spinal cord
Publisher:   Virtual Medical Centre.com
Description:   Information on the symptoms, treatment and diagnosis of glioma of the spinal cord presents (tumours within the spinal cord) by professional health specialists.
Date:   Feb 2008
Title:   Spinal cord tethering - myDr.com.au
Publisher:   myDr
Description:   In spina bifida the spinal cord is almost always tethered or stuck to the spinal canal.
Date:   Sep 2007
Title:   Spinal muscular atrophy: the intermediate form - myDr.com.au
Publisher:   myDr
Description:   Spinal Muscular Atrophy is one of the neuromuscular diseases. Muscles weaken and waste away (atrophy) due to degeneration of motor neurons, which are nerve cells in the spinal cord.
Date:   Jun 2007

Results 1 to 12 displayed.