What is surfer’s myelopathy?

Surfer’s myelopathy is a non-traumatic spinal cord injury that affects first time surfers. The novice surfer is affected by a loss of blood flow to the spinal cord, known as an ischemic injury, believed to be caused by the hyperextension of the back while laying on the surfboard for extended time.

How do members experience surfer’s myelopathy?

Top 5 symptoms reported by people with surfer’s myelopathy*

*Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.

Top treatments taken by people for surfer’s myelopathy*

Who has surfer’s myelopathy on PatientsLikeMe?

Age

Age Proportion # of patients
<20 0
20s 0
30s 0
40s 1
50s 1
60s 2
70+ 0

Distribution of sex

Sex

Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 2
Female 2

We’re all in this for good.

By sharing your stories and data, you will:
  • help each other live better and uncover the best ways to manage your health today
  • help researchers shorten the path to new treatments tomorrow

How much good can your data do? A whole lot, as co-founder Jamie Heywood explains in this video.

What is surfer’s myelopathy?

Surfer’s myelopathy is a non-traumatic spinal cord injury that affects first time surfers. The novice surfer is affected by a loss of blood flow to the spinal cord, known as an ischemic injury, believed to be caused by the hyperextension of the back while laying on the surfboard for extended time.



Common symptoms reported by people with surfer’s myelopathy

Common symptoms
How bad it is
What people are taking for it

Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.
Last updated:



Treatments taken by people for surfer’s myelopathy

Let’s build this page together! When you share what it’s like to have surfer’s myelopathy through your profile, those stories and data appear here too.

Got a question about living with surfer’s myelopathy? Members in the forum might have the answers.


Compare treatments taken by people with surfer’s myelopathy

Let’s build this page together! When you share what it’s like to have surfer’s myelopathy through your profile, those stories and data appear here too.

Got a question about living with surfer’s myelopathy? Members in the forum might have the answers.



Who has surfer’s myelopathy on PatientsLikeMe?

  • 0 new patients joined this month
  • 1 say surfer’s myelopathy is their primary condition

Age
Age Proportion # of patients
<20 0
20s 0
30s 0
40s 1
50s 1
60s 2
70+ 0

Distribution of sex

Sex
Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 2
Female 2

These charts show data from surfer’s myelopathy patients who have completed their condition history
Last updated:

Let’s build this page together! When you share what it’s like to have surfer’s myelopathy through your profile, those stories and data appear here too.

Got a question about living with surfer’s myelopathy? Members in the forum might have the answers.