Myelopathy is a term that describes a specific condition: an abnormal compression of the spinal cord, which results in the interruption of the normal flow of nerve signals through the pinched area. The compression causes pain, numbness, loss of sensation, and difficulty with balance and movement, among many other potential symptoms.

 What Is Myelopathy?

Myelopathy is a condition in which the spinal cord becomes severely compressed, enough to disrupt its task of transmitting nerve signals to and from the brain and body.  This condition is sometimes described as “a loss of spinal cord activity.”

A helpful analogy would be to compare the spinal cord to a garden hose. When the hose lies straight, water flows through it at its...