ANALYSE THE SPINE

QI am a 60-year-old man with BP and sugar. I have lost balance while walking and I am not able to identify any surface I walk on. Besides this, I am finding it difficult to hold a pen. I am not able to button and unbutton my shirt as well. I have also observed that I lose balance whenever I close my eyes. What is the problem?

— Anonymous

AThe most probable reason would be cervical compressive myelopathy. In this case, the patient’s cervical cord gets compressed, leading to weakness and numbness in the upper limbs. Difficulty in walking is experienced because of numbness in both the lower limbs and the patient is not able to feel the floor. In addition to this, loss of dexterity of hands is a casual feature of cervical compressive myelopathy. I recommend that you should get an MRI of the spine so that the reasons can be established.

Dr Rajasekhar Reddy K.

Consultant neuro and spine surgeon

QMy father had an angiogram after a heart attack and some doctors are advising angioplasty while others suggest a bypass. Which one is better? — Anonymous

AThese are two ways of tackling the same disease. Each procedure has its own place in the treatment of heart patients. In people with three-vessel involvement, bypass is preferred. There are other categories where bypass is preferred. These are diabetic patients and patients with left ventricular dysfunction and left main stem disease.

However, with the advent of newer technologies in both angioplasty and bypass surgeries, both have become equally effective with good long-term results.