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Semin Neurol 2012; 32(02): 161-168
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1322582
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Management of Chronic Myelopathy Symptoms and Activities of Daily Living

Karunesh Ganguly
1   San Francisco VA Medical Center, University of California, San Francisco, California
2   Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, California
,
Gary M. Abrams
1   San Francisco VA Medical Center, University of California, San Francisco, California
2   Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, California
3   Department of Rehabilitation Service, University of California, San Francisco, California
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History

Publication Date:
08 September 2012 (online)

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Abstract

Many disorders can injure the spinal cord resulting in long-term chronic myelopathy. Spinal cord dysfunction influences the homeostasis of multiple organ systems ranging from the heart or lung to the integument, thus presenting a wide variety of challenges for medical management. Although most of our knowledge about the consequences of myelopathies derives from the study of traumatic spinal cord injuries, similar complications occur in myelopathies of all etiologies. The authors survey some of the important clinical issues that the general neurologist needs to consider in caring for patients with chronic spinal cord disease.

Keywords

myelopathy - spinal cord injury - spasticity - pain