Quote Originally Posted by spondy_21 View Post
Hi SPPAWA,
I don't have any charts with a number ranking for my reflexes.
I have been tested several times in the past couple of years, and no doctor ever noted anything abnormal/extraordinary. That includes a thorough physical exam w/ reflex testing by a neurologist.
Hello Spondy,

Without physically examining you myself I cannot say much. There is a possibility, and it is often missed in such cases, where your lumbar spinal extensors are being activated due to the cord compression in your neck (depending on the degree of compression). With cervical myelopathy (cord compression in the neck) the fibers that are most susceptible to compression from extruded discs or degenerative changes are those which are traveling down to the lower limbs. Another pathway called our reticuospinal projections also travels through this section and can be affected depending on the degree of cord compression which you have.

With cord compression in the absence of any compromise to peripheral nerves one will usually exhibit accentuated reflexes which would occur in reflexes which exist below the level of cord compression. You can think of the role of the above mentioned pathways as "dampeners of reflexes" and thus, when compromised, will lead to the accentuation often seen on examination. This being said, your posture is controlled by reflexes. Spinal posture is controlled in particular by reflexes associated with the vestibulospinal projections which travel through the neck as well to control postural reflexes within the lower back. If the dampening mechanism is compromised due to cord compression it will result in increased tone in posterior (back side) extensor muscles in the lower limb and spine. Increased activation of these muslces, which is commonly seen in individuals who have suffered stroke leads to the odd gait (wallking) pattern where patients hike their hip up and over (circumducitve gait). This occurs as they cannot activate opposing muscles to overpower the extensor tone in the their hip due to and upper motor neuron lesion whether that be located in the brain or spinal cord. It is possible that your neck injury has caused some compromise of the dampening mechanism to these reflexes. Have you also noted stiffness in the legs?

In the event this is the case and other more common treatment avenues have not helped, I would search out a practitioner with experience in vestibular rehabilitation. Increasing the efficiency of the vestibulospinal projections through exercises aimed at them, as has been my experience, leads to improvement in patients I have managed with chronic extensor tone below the level of T6.

I hope this helps.

SPPAWA