Balance Problems and Clumsy Hands

Cervical Myelopathy

Also called: spinal cord compression in the neck, cervical spondylotic myelopathy

Compression of the spinal cord in the neck that gradually causes hand clumsiness, balance problems, and weakness, often requiring surgical decompression to prevent further decline.

Cervical Myeloradiculopathy

A neck condition in which age-related degeneration simultaneously compresses the spinal cord and nearby nerve roots, producing a combination of arm pain, hand clumsiness, and balance or walking problems.

Cervical Stenosis

Also called: narrowed spinal canal in the neck, neck spinal stenosis

Narrowing of the cervical spinal canal or nerve-root openings that can compress the spinal cord or nerve roots, causing arm pain, hand clumsiness, or balance problems.

Cervical Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament (OPLL)

Also called: calcified spinal ligament, hardened ligament in the neck

A condition in which the posterior longitudinal ligament of the neck progressively ossifies, narrowing the spinal canal and placing the spinal cord at risk of injury.

Thoracic Myelopathy

Also called: spinal cord compression in the mid back

Compression of the spinal cord in the mid-back (T1–T12) that causes progressive leg weakness, balance problems, and in advanced cases bowel or bladder dysfunction.

Thoracic Stenosis

Also called: narrowed spinal canal in the mid back, spinal stenosis in the upper back

Narrowing of the spinal canal in the mid-back that compresses the spinal cord, causing progressive leg weakness, balance problems, and sometimes bowel or bladder dysfunction.

Central Cord Syndrome

Also called: central cord injury

The most common form of incomplete spinal cord injury, causing arm and hand weakness more severe than leg weakness, most often after a hyperextension injury in a neck already narrowed by age-related changes.

Intradural Extramedullary Tumor

Also called: spinal tumor outside the spinal cord

A tumor that grows within the spinal canal outside the spinal cord itself, compressing the cord or nerve roots and causing progressive pain, sensory changes, or weakness.

Intramedullary Spinal Cord Tumor

Also called: tumor inside the spinal cord, spinal cord tumor

A tumor arising within the spinal cord's own tissue that expands the cord from inside, progressively disrupting movement, sensation, and bladder and bowel control.

Peripheral Neuropathy as a Spine Mimic

Also called: nerve damage in the hands and feet, numbness and burning in the feet

A disorder of the peripheral nerves that produces numbness, tingling, burning pain, and weakness resembling a spinal pinched nerve or cord compression.