DCM and Pain

Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy (DCM) is a term that describes spinal cord compression, in the neck (the cervical spine) due to a range of different degenerative conditions. These include conditions such as Cervical Spondylosis, Ossification of the Ligamentum Flavum (OLF), Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament (OPLL), Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) and Disc Herniation or Prolapse.  This condition is also called Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy (CSM).

The effect of DCM on patients is poorly understood. In the past, an emphasis has been placed on the functional impact of DCM on movement.  However through the work of Myelopathy.org and it's community you have shown this overlooks an important sensory aspect of DCM which matters to patients; PAIN.

So we are listening and want to move research to meet your needs.

Pain is a complicated experience which can be different from one person to the next.  Therefore in order to advance pain research in DCM, we need to better understand the type of pain experience in DCM, the type of treatments offered and whether they help, and how pain impacts your daily life.  This has not been looked at before.  But in doing so, we hope the information will support further research and lead to new treatment strategies.  

We would therefore like to invite patients with Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy to participate in this survey as a step towards better understanding of the symptoms experienced as a result of DCM.

This information will help researchers know how DCM and pain are related and potentially guide further research into new treatments in DCM patients.

All information will be stored anonymously.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact the team at info@myelopathy.org  

Thank you for your time