Symptoms of Spinal Tumors

Constantine Toumbis, MD, has been practicing as a spinal surgeon for more than 13 years. Now the owner of Citrus Spine Institute in Florida, Dr. Constantine Toumbis welcomes patients with spinal tumors.

A spinal tumor can develop in or around the spinal cord or vertebrae. These growths can be difficult to diagnose because one of the primary symptoms is back pain, which is often indicative of a different and less serious condition. Pain from spinal tumors may be distinguishable because it is specific to a particular spot and worsens when that spot is directly manipulated. The pain may also be worse at night.

Furthermore, because spinal tumors can develop anywhere along the spine, they can cause a varied set of symptoms that are inconsistent from one patient to the next. For most patients, the initial pain precedes neurological issues such as numbness or weakness of the limbs. 

Some patients may experience changes in their gait or trouble walking in the dark. Many patients notice a change in bowel or bladder habits, paralysis, or spinal curvature.

Fortunately for patients, spinal tumors are much less common than other causes of back pain. A visit to a specialist and an MRI can usually determine whether a tumor is present.

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