Pressure on the spinal cord can cause Spinal cord compression.

Spinal cord compression

The spinal cord is a long bundle of nerves which stretches from the brain to the lower part of the back and connects all the nerves of our body with each other. These nerves carry messages to and from the central nervous system.
Together the brain and the spinal cord make up the central nervous system. The bones of the spine are called vertebrae and they surround and protect the spinal cord.

Spinal cord compression happens when there is pressure on the spinal cord. This pressure may be caused by a cancer that started in, or has spread into, the bones of the spine. 5/10 people out of 100 suffering from cancer can develop spinal cord compression. Most of these are due to cancer spreading to the spine from another part of the body. All types of cancer can spread to the bones of the spine. But it is more common in cancers of the prostate, breast or lung, and lymphoma.. Apart from cancer, other causes of spinal cord compression include injury to the spinal cord, weakening of the bones (osteoporosis) and infection.

Pressure on the spinal cord stops the nerves working normally and causes symptoms. The symptoms you have depend, on which part of the spinal cord is compressed (squeezed). Spinal cord compression is a serious problem that needs to be treated as soon as possible

The symptoms to look out for include

• Pain or tenderness in the middle or top of your back or neck.
• Severe pain in your lower back that gets worse or doesn’t go away.
• Pain in your back that becomes worse when you cough, sneeze or go to the toilet.
• Back pain that stops you from sleeping.
• Numbness, weakness or difficulty using your arms or legs.
• A band of pain down your arm or leg or around your body.
• Changes in sensation in a part of your body, for example pins and needles or electric shock sensations.
• Numbness in the area around your back passage. (the saddle area)
• Not being able to empty your bowel or bladder.
• Problems controlling your bowel or bladder.
• Erection problems in men.

It is recommended to opt for an MRI scan within a week after consulting the doctor. If you have changes in sensation or weakness in your arms and legs then you should go for the scan within 24 hours, which will show whether you have a cancer affecting the spine. It will also show that which part of the spinal cord is compressed.

If you can’t have an MRI scan, then you can go for CT scan.