Metastatic spinal cord compression

Signs & symptoms

• Referred back pain is multi-segmental or band like.
• Worsening pain poorly responding to treatment.
• Patient reports that they have strange/ heavy feelings in their limbs “my legs and arms just don’t feel like mine”.
• Lying flat increases back pain.
• Interrupted sleep with worsening night pain.
• Altered gait, especially stairs.
• Cauda Equina symptoms.
• Night sweats.
• Symptoms may vary and don’t fit a pattern.

Risk factors

• PMH cancer ( bony metastasis can develop in two thirds of patients with previous cancer particularly Lung/ breast/ thyroid/ kidney)
• Most common site is the thoracic spine but can occur in lumbar/ cervical.