Myelopathy is a term for symptoms that occur when there is a problem with the spinal cord. It can be painful or painless but can involve numbness/weakness of the hands as well as difficulty with balance, manual dexterity/fine motor skill deteriation (such as handwriting worsening or frequent dropping of objects) or controlling bowel/bladder function, among other symptoms.

This can occur with compression of the spinal cord in the neck or mid to upper back. Given the severity of this condition, treatment for spinal cord compression typically involves surgery.