Spinal cord compression is an emergency and painful condition during which there is pressure on the spinal cord due to a tumor resulting in a lot of pain and trauma. While the spinal cord comprises of nerve bundles running down the vertebrae’s hollow part, the vertebrae and inter-vertebral disks protect it from outside by providing the shock absorption.
What causes it?
It is quite possible that something pressing on the spinal cord with a lot of force, could cause damage and lead to the loss of functionality of the nerves. Tumor is one of the several reasons this could happen. The tumor which causes the compression may lead to the situation either directly or indirectly depending upon where it originates. The severity also varies with patients in some cases experiencing motor and sensory loss. Apart from cancerous causes, the fracture of vertebrae, dislocation or malformation could lead to the problem with nerves of the spinal cord too. Undue pressure on the spinal cord could also take place due to hematoma, a condition caused by blood around the spinal cord. The blood flow caused due to defective blood vessels could also lead to this situation. Similarly, ligaments could cause compression as well especially after an individual has suffered from back injury.
Mild and severe symptoms
The spinal cord compression could lead to symptoms that include loss of rectal sensation as well as urinary retention and hesitancy in some cases. Weakness in legs and back pain could also be experienced during this medical condition. Depending on the area of the compression, it is also quite possible that the individual loses control of arms and legs. Since the nerves of spinal cord control functionality of muscles, the compression could affect the person a lot. It is to be noted that since, the compression is likely to affect all the nerves below the compression area, higher the compression on the spinal cord, more would be the severity and symptoms observed in the person. Mild symptoms of compression could include general muscle fatigue along with discomfort in the back. There could be a funny tingling sensation in the muscles. Muscles spasms, bladder control and numbness are some of the other symptoms. In severe cases, even paralysis in the patient cannot be ruled out.
How to respond
The compression of spinal cord and the pain therein can be relieved by administering corticosteriords. Even surgical decompression or radiotherapy is employed to treat the patient. It is to be noted that radiotherapy doesn’t work in case of tumors which are known to resist it. In such cases, surgical procedures are employed. Those patients who are suffering from lymphoma, lung cancer, prostate or breast cancer might witness its metastasizing to the spine. MRI is often used to scan and detect the area where compression has been formed. This oncological emergency is quite a common complication of the nerves and could leave the individual with permanent defects in some cases. Impotence is another effect of the compression. Similarly paraplegia could also manifest within few days depending on how much the compression has progressed.