Symptoms

Vertebral tumors can cause different signs and symptoms, especially as tumors grow. The tumors may affect your spinal cord or the nerve roots, blood vessels, or bones of your spine. Vertebral tumor signs and symptoms may include:

• Pain at the site of the tumor due to tumor growth
• Back pain, often radiating to other parts of your body
• Back pain that's worse at night
• Loss of sensation or muscle weakness, especially in your arms or legs
• Difficulty walking, sometimes leading to falls
• Feeling less sensitive to cold, heat and pain
• Loss of bowel or bladder function
• Paralysis, which may be mild or severe, and can strike in different areas throughout the body

Spinal tumors progress at different rates depending on the type of tumor.

When to see a doctor

There are many causes of back pain, and most back pain isn't caused by a tumor. But because early diagnosis and treatment are important for vertebral tumors, see your doctor about your back pain if:

• It's persistent and progressive
• It's not activity related
• It gets worse at night
• You have a history of cancer and develop new back pain
• You have other systemic signs and symptoms of cancer, such as nausea, vomiting or dizziness

Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:

• Progressive muscle weakness or numbness in your legs or arms
• Changes in bowel or bladder function