To raise awareness of myelopathy and to address gaps in our knowledge of the condition and how best to treat it, Cambridge Stem Cell Institute Affiliate, Dr Mark Kotter and colleague Ben Davies, together with Iwan Sadler, have launched Myelopathy.org, a charity that aims to give patients a voice and effect change.
Myelopathy is caused by arthritic changes affecting the spinal column of the neck. Because of the close proximity, these can exert pressure on the spinal cord and trigger a "slow motion spinal cord injury".
“If you haven’t heard of myelopathy, you are probably in good company,” said Dr Kotter. “Myelopathy is likely the most under-diagnosed neurological condition, yet it affects as many as a million adults in the UK.”
The onset of myelopathy is often subtle: symptoms include numb and clumsy hands, imbalance, and urinary problems. When left undiagnosed, it can progress with patients losing control of their hands and bladder, and becoming unable to walk. Myelopathy is now recognised as having one of the worst impacts on quality of life.
The actual number of patients who suffer from this condition remains unclear. Recent research by Dr Kotter's team analysed existing spinal MRI studies, with the results indicating that as many as one in 50 adults may be affected.
Read more here.