How to Treat Nerve Damage Due to Spine Compression

Spine compression or spinal cord compression occurs when a serious injury or preexisting medical condition like cancer or bone disease puts pressure on the spine, causing it to compress. If left untreated, spinal cord compression can lead to permanent nerve damage and even total paralysis. There are several methods for preventing and reversing nerve damage caused by spinal compression, but immediate diagnosis and medical treatment is required for them to be effective.

Instructions

• 1

  Look for signs and symptoms of spinal cord compression. According to the Merck Manual medical library, these include back pain or pressure, numbness in extremities, muscle weakness or spasms, unusual tingling sensations, partial or total loss of bowel and bladder control and erectile dysfunction in men. These symptoms may be acute (sudden) or chronic, ranging from mild to severe. They are not always positive signs of spinal compression, but the best treatment for nerve damage is early detection, so consult with your doctor right away if you're unsure. If your symptoms are sudden or worsening, consider emergency care.

• 2

  Give your doctor detailed descriptions of all your symptoms -- when they started, where they're located, and how they feel. Be as specific as possible, and include a thorough medical history of yourself and your family. This will help your doctor quickly narrow down the possible diagnoses and prescribe appropriate tests and treatments crucial for preventing permanent nerve damage. MRIs, X-rays or CT myelography will be used to confirm the diagnosis.

• 3

  Discuss the risks and benefits of treatment options with your doctor. Urge your doctor or surgeon to explain them in clear and simple language you can understand. Spinal surgery is the most common treatment for decompressing and relieving spinal pressure. Potential complications can be life threatening and include partial or total paralysis, so it's important to understand the risks involved.

• 4

  Educate yourself on what procedures each treatment involves, so you know what to expect. Even after spinal pressure has been alleviated, additional steps are often necessary. For instance, sudden spinal compression caused by an injury can require the insertion of steel rods for support, while treatment for compression caused by cancer or degenerative diseases can involve post-op radiation and corticosteroid therapies for pain and swelling, or procedures to drain blood pooling in or around the spine (hematomas), and prevent further bleeding.

• 5

  Be decisive -- surgery can be frightening, but its success depends on having it done as soon as possible. Pressure on the spine from compression must be relieved before nerve pathways are destroyed to ensure your full recovery, and in some cases, this window is less than 24 hours after symptoms first appear.