Symptoms
Symptoms
Spinal tumors can present with many symptoms, some that you wouldn’t expect. Whether the tumor is benign or malignant, it will likely cause pain. Back pain that is worse at night or that radiates into other parts of the body is to be expected. Other symtoms include: loss of sensitivity to pain or temperature, bowel or bladder function issues, clumsiness and muscle weakness in the arms, legs or other parts of the body.
Back Pain
Back pain can have many causes, most of which do not include spinal tumor. However, if you’re experiencing back pain or muscle weakness along with other symptoms, including fever, chills, shakes, clumsiness, bladder control issues, or loss of sensation, it is a good idea to visit a doctor.
Loss of sensation: pain, heat and cold
While back pain is a common symptom of spinal tumors, a lack of pain can also indicate a problem. Beware if you also experience a lack of sensitivity to temperature change, as well.
Loss of bowel or bladder function
A spinal tumor, depending where it is located, can lead to issues such as incontinence. This is because the tumor could be putting pressure on your bladder or another part of your stomach.
Clumsiness
Frequent falls, loss of balance of difficulty walking can all indicate that a spinal problem is at play. While this doesn’t always mean that a tumor is at play, an MRI or other diagnosing imaging technology could help rule it out, or point to the real problem.
Muscle weakness in arms or legs
When tumors put pressure on the spinal cord, a common side effect is muscle weakness. This can be experienced in the arms, legs or other parts of the body and may present in different ways. Look for poor grip, loss of stamina, inability to lift objects or difficulty walking.