Myelomalacia: A Guide to Coping and Finding Support

Mar 30, 2023

Here we will go over how to cope with myelomalacia and find a support system.

Myelomalacia of the spine is a rare condition that occurs when the spinal cord softens. This softening can lead to volume loss in the spine and injury. Common symptoms include pain, paralysis, loss of motor function, sudden jerking of the limbs, and more.

Being diagnosed with myelomalacia is an emotional and life-changing moment. Having a support system and coping skills will be essential to living with this condition.

Let’s jump right in.

Talk To Loved Ones

One of the best things you can do for yourself while battling a serious health condition like myelomalacia is to talk to your friends and family.

When talking to your loved ones, educate them on the severity of your condition and let them know how they can help. You may need physical comfort, emotional support, or help doing chores or running errands

Having loved ones in your support system is incredibly helpful. If you can’t find support at home, you may want to consider finding it in other places.

Go To Therapy

Many individuals with health issues find coping difficult, and going to therapy can be helpful.

A therapist can help you process your emotions, come up with a plan for how to handle the situation mentally, and offer general advice.

Seeing a therapist for physical pain is common because it takes a toll on your mindset, and over time, conditions like depression and anxiety can develop.

Talk To Your Primary Care Provider

Your primary care provider is another member of your support system that can offer much more than emotional support.

Your primary doctor will be the person responsible for helping you create a treatment plan and cope with the physical symptoms of myelomalacia. Your primary may refer you to a specialist, but either provider will be able to help you prescribe your medications, send you to physical therapy and give advice on how to relieve pain at home.

Join a Support Group

Myelomalacia may be a rare condition, but there are online support groups available. For example, Reddit and Facebook have myelomalacia support groups with thousands of members that relate to your struggles.

In these groups, you can ask other members for advice on pain management and how to cope.

Talking to individuals who share a health condition can be comforting because not many people in your life can understand what you’re going through.

Use Marijuana

Marijuana is highly beneficial to myelomalacia patients because it can alleviate many of the condition’s symptoms.

Myelomalacia symptoms that marijuana can help include:

Pain
Inflammation
Muscle tension
Hypertension
Mood disorders

If you live in a state that only has medical marijuana and not recreational, you can apply for a medical marijuana card. Myelomalacia is a qualifying condition in most states.

Say you live in a state that has yet to legalize marijuana at all, if that is the case then you can still find relief from CBD products (CBD is legal in all states.)

Use Self-Care

No matter the health condition a person has, practicing self-care can help you cope.

Self-care can be activities like going to the gym, taking a bubble bath, watching a movie, or going to the park. As long as you are doing something you enjoy, you are practicing self-care.

Self-care is an essential part of the coping process because it teaches us to be mindful of our emotional needs while struggling physically.

Know Your Limits

Unfortunately, myelomalacia patients may have limitations on what they can do physically. At times, certain actions like moving your limbs can become difficult. It is important to know what movements trigger these difficulties and be familiar with where you should set limits.

For example, if bending down is painful, you should find a new way to get low such as squatting.

If you learn to work within your limits, your pain will decrease which makes coping easier.