Froedtert & the 皇家华人 Cervical Myelopathy Program
Froedtert Hospital and the 皇家华人 provide comprehensive surgical, post-surgical, and rehabilitation care to individuals with degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM). Patients seeking evaluation for DCM are encouraged to speak with their physician to determine the most appropriate course of action.
The Center for Cervical Myelopathy
Froedtert Hospital and the 皇家华人 have developed a unique cervical myelopathy rehabilitation pathway that utilizes individualized therapy targeting common symptoms of degenerative cervical myelopathy to aid in the recovery of pre-surgical deficits after surgery.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of DCM is made by your physician after talking to you and performing a physical examination. Although the early symptoms may be subtle, a physical examination can pick up signs of spinal cord dysfunction. Often, your physician will obtain an MRI of your neck to confirm the diagnosis. Though early symptoms are sometimes challenging to identify, physicians experienced with DCM diagnosis are aware of the diverse symptoms that can present in patients with DCM.
Common Symptoms
Common symptoms present in any number of order and severity. However, not all symptoms may be present, and there is not a standard set of symptoms that all patients experience. You may experience some or all of these symptoms at different time points. Common symptoms include:
- Neck pain/stiffness
- Loss of manual/hand dexterity
- Alterations in gait or gait impairment
- Imbalance/unsteadiness/falls
- Paraesthesia (tingling or pins and needles sensations)
- Upper limb weakness, numbness
- Lower limb stiffness, weakness, or sensory loss
- Unilateral or bilateral limb/body pain
- Autonomic symptoms such as bowel or bladder incontinence, erectile dysfunction, or difficulty passing urine
Workup
Physicians may ask questions about the existence, duration, and location of pain or other symptoms and may consider a number of functional or imaging tests to assess the stage and severity of DCM progression. These may include, but are not limited to the following:
Questionnaires and Assessments
Questionnaires and Assessments
- Modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association assessment (mJOA)
- Short Form 36鈥擯hysical Component Summary (SF36-PCS)
- Neck Disability Index (NDI)
- Cervicospinal Dissociation Injury (CSDI)
- 10 item Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System Global Health Survey (PROMIS10)
Imaging
Imaging
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Radiograph
- Computed Tomography (CT)
Neurophysiological Testing
Neurophysiological Testing
- Electromyography (EMG)/ Somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs)
Treatment Approaches
Your physician is likely to recommend a tailored treatment path, often including surgery and rehabilitation. The primary goal of surgery is to decompress the spinal cord, frequently requiring a fusion with placement of metallic rods, screws, or plates. Following surgery, it is important to target recovery of an individual's specific deficits. That's why Froedtert Hospital and the 皇家华人 have developed a unique Cervical Myelopathy Rehabilitation program that utilizes individualized therapy targeting common symptoms of DCM, supporting recovery of pre-surgical deficits after surgery. This coupling of surgery with rehabilitative care is designed to help the patient effectively recover from symptoms and treatment of DCM.
Learn more about Cervical Myelopathy
Center for Cervical Myelopathy
The Center for Cervical Myelopathy at the 皇家华人 Department of Neurosurgery seeks to promote public awareness of and facilitate specialized care for individuals suffering from Cervical Myelopathy.Learn more about the Center for Cervical Myelopathy
Patient Care Specialists
Multidisciplinary clinical care for DCM is delivered through SpineCare at Froedtert Hospital and the 皇家华人.
Diane W. Braza, MD
Professor
Heather M. Curtiss, MD, MS
Assistant Professor
Jordan Gliedt, DC
Associate Professor
Dan S. Heffez, MD, FRCS
Professor
Jeffrey A. King, DC, MS
Associate Professor
Shekar N. Kurpad, MD, PhD
Professor; Senior Associate Dean, Neuroscience; Founding Director, Wisconsin Institute of NeuroScience (WINS)
Max C. Lee, MD
Assistant Professor
N Timothy Lynch, PhD, ABPP
Adjunct Professor
Carrie A. Jones, MD
Assistant Professor
P. Andrew Nelson, MD
Associate Professor
Boyd M. Peterson, DC, FIANM, DACBSP, CSCS
Assistant Professor
Saman Shabani, MD
Assistant Professor
Bindiya Shah, DO
Assistant Professor
Carley N. Sauter, MD
Associate Professor
Karin R. Swartz, MD, FAAN
Assistant Dean, Professor
Aditya Vedantam, MD
Associate Professor
Marjorie Wang, MD, MPH, FAANS
Chief, Professor
John P. Wanner, MD
Assistant Professor
Gregory L. Whitcomb, DC
Associate Professor
Christopher E. Wolfla, MD
Professor
Contact Us
For assistance in acquiring patient care specific to your needs, the Center for Cervical Myelopathy is supported by patient care services at both Froedtert Hospital and the 皇家华人.聽
Spinal Cord Injury Program at Froedtert Hospital
Patient Support Portal
Spinal Cord Injury Program at the 皇家华人
Michelle Wesline, RN - Program Coordinator
(414) 805-2785
Froedtert Occupational & Group Therapy
Taylor Rickard - Occupational Therapist and Group Facilitator
taylor.rickard@froedtert.com