Help from Lombardy Chiropractic Clinic for Cervical Spine Myelopathy: From Diagnosis to Gentle Care
When everyday tasks feel more difficult to do — buttoning a shirt, holding a cup, walking steadily — your neck may be at the root of it. Together, these may be early warning signs of degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) [aka cervical spine myelopathy (CSM)] — a condition that's often overlooked until it becomes harder to treat.
WHAT IS CERVICAL MYELOPATHY?
DCM arises when the spinal cord in the neck is gradually squeezed by age-related changes — bone spurs, thickened ligaments, or degenerating discs. Unlike a basic pinched nerve, spinal cord involvement is more serious — and regrettably, it often goes unrecognized for months or even years.
WHY EARLY DIAGNOSIS IS SO IMPORTANT
A 2022 case report and literature review published in Cureus highlighted just this challenge. Trager and colleagues described how a chiropractic office can actually be on the front lines of spotting DCM — noting that chiropractors are well-positioned to see red flags, conduct appropriate neurological screening, and refer patients when needed. (1) The takeaway? Your chiropractor at Lombardy Chiropractic Clinic isn't just there for back pain — our Augusta chiropractic practice may be the first provider to catch something more serious. Chiropractic physicians go through vast training in diagnosis, neurology, and musculoskeletal medicine — including orthopedic and neurological examination, imaging interpretation, and knowing when to manage, co-manage, or refer. Your chiropractor can commence the path to piecing together the picture before a specialist ever enters the conversation.
CONSERVATIVE CARE HAS A ROLE — WHEN APPROPRIATE
Not every cervical spine condition requires immediate surgery. A 2025 study in the North American Spine Society Journal found that physical therapy, chiropractic care, and acupuncture are all employed in managing cervical spine conditions, with various patient and provider factors prompting which path is chosen. (2) For milder cases, conservative management may be a reasonable first step — but only when the diagnosis is clear and the severity is properly measured.
One gentle option worth having knowledge of is Cox® Technic — a specialized, evidence-informed chiropractic method that uses a segmented table and carefully controlled, low-force flexion-distraction movements. For appropriate patients, it offers a way to address cervical spine symptoms without the forceful manipulation that concerns some folks. It's not right for every case, but in the hands of a trained chiropractor, it denotes the kind of thoughtful, personalized care that can make conservative management a viable first step.
Medication options for cervical spine conditions deserve careful consideration. A 2026 retrospective cohort study in the Journal of Clinical Neuroscience compared gabapentin to NSAIDs for cervical radiculopathy, stressing that treatment choices carry real safety and utilization implications. (3)
THE BOTTOM LINE, IN Augusta: CONTACT Lombardy Chiropractic Clinic
Catching this early changes what's possible. It allows for informed conversations about whether conservative care, referral, or co-management is the right path — before the window for some options shuts.
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. James Cox on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he shares two cases of cervical spine myelopathy and their management along guidelines for management and referral that coincide with The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
If you're experiencing neck-related neurological symptoms, don't push them aside. Get checked out. Schedule your Augusta chiropractic appointment now.
