Article Text
Abstract
Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is the most common cause of adult spinal cord dysfunction, most classically presenting with a broad-based gait and clumsy hands. Limb sensory loss and paraesthesia are considered common symptoms of DCM. However, we report an unusual case of a patient presenting with prominent and atypical sensory symptoms. The patient repeatedly presented to accident and emergency complaining of her body resembling a wet gel-like substance that she attributed to the use of olive oil moisturising cream. The patient was found to have myelopathic signs on examination and MRI consistent with severe cervical myelopathy. She subsequently underwent successful decompressive anterior cervical discectomy, as recommended by international guidelines. This case serves to remind health professionals of uncommon presentations of common disease and the importance of maintaining a wide initial differential diagnosis.
- spinal cord
- pain (neurology)
- neurology
- neurological injury
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Footnotes
Contributors ODM, BMD and MRK were involved in conception, planning and design of the manuscript; were involved in redrafting the manuscript, data analysis and interpretation of the data; approved submission of the final version of the manuscript. ODM wrote the first draft and acquired the data presented in the manuscript from electronic hospital records.
Funding Research in the senior author’s laboratory is supported by a core support grant from the Wellcome Trust and MRC to the Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute. MRNK is supported by a NIHR Clinician Scientist Award. This report is independent research arising from a Clinician Scientist Award (CS-2015-15-023) supported by the National Institute for Health Research. The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the National Institute for Health Research or the Department of Health and Social Care.
Competing interests MRN reports grants from National Institute of Health Research, travel cost grant from AOSpine and is founder and trustee of Myelopathy.org, the first charity dedicated to degenerative cervical myelopathy.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.
Patient consent for publication Obtained.