Treatment for spinal cord compression

Treatment for spinal cord compression should start as soon as possible, usually within 24 hours of diagnosis. This reduces the chance of permanent damage to the spinal cord.

Treatment can also control symptoms of compression. Some people have pain. Other people have nerve symptoms, such as numbness or tingling.

Your doctor will talk to you about your options. Treatment aims to get you back to normal as much as possible and as soon as possible.

Treatment options include:

• ​steroids​

• ​radiotherapy​

• surgery

• ​bisphosphonate drugs​

• other cancer treatments such as ​chemotherapy​ , ​hormone therapy​ or ​targeted cancer drugs​

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy uses high energy x-rays to destroy cancer cells.. By relieving pressure on the spinal cord it can help reduce pain and improve other symptoms.

Depending on your situation you might have other treatments with radiotherapy including:

• painkillers

• steroids

• surgery

Each radiotherapy treatment is called a fraction and takes a few minutes. You might have one dose of radiotherapy to help with the pain. Or you might have a number of treatments over 5 to 10 days.

The number of fractions you need depends on your general health and other treatments you are having, such as surgery.

Your doctor will tell you how many fractions you need.

Find out more about radiotherapy for spinal cord compression

Chemotherapy

You might have chemotherapy for spinal cord compression. This is most likely if you have lymphoma, germ cell cancer or small cell lung cancer.

Chemotherapy uses anti cancer (cytotoxic) drugs to destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy drugs circulate throughout your body. So it can treat cancer cells almost anywhere in the body.  

Go to general information about chemotherapy

Treating and preventing other problems

Having spinal cord compression means you are more likely to develop other health problems. These can happen because you aren’t able to move about as normal.

Blood clots

Lying still increases your risk of blood clots. Wearing elastic compression stockings helps to lower your risk. You might also have an anticoagulant (blood thinning) medicine. You have this as a tablet or an injection under the skin.

Chest problems

Lying down in bed can increase your risk of a chest infection. A physiotherapist can teach you deep breathing exercises. This helps to reduce your chance of getting a chest infection.

When you are ready, your nurses will help you sit up. It’s important to sit up and out in a chair if it is safe to do so. Sitting up helps you breathe more deeply and reduces your risk of infections.

Pressure sores

To prevent pressure sores you need to change position regularly. Your nurses will turn you regularly if you are on bed rest and unable to move. You will be encouraged to get out of bed and walk regularly if you are able to.

You might have a pressure relieving cushion for when you sit up.

Bladder and bowel problems

Pressure on your nerves might make it difficult for you to control your bladder or bowels. You may need a tube called a catheter to drain the bladder. You might also need medicines to help your bowel work.

Going home

Your doctors and nurses will start planning for when you go home while you are in hospital. This includes referring you for

• ​district nursing​ support

• community ​palliative care​

Physiotherapists and ​occupational therapists​ should also work out a plan with you and your family. They aim to make sure you can live as independently as possible if you still have problems moving around. They can do a home visit. And then arrange equipment, such as a wheelchair, or changes to your home, such as grab rails.

Your local social services may also provide equipment or any care or help you need.

Read more about support at home

Research and clinical trials

Researchers around the world are looking at better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat spinal cord compression. These studies are looking at:

• different types and ways of giving radiotherapy

• combining radiotherapy with different drugs such as ​bisphosphonates​ 

• using heat therapy (thermal ablation) with a type of radiotherapy called stereotactic radiotherapy (SBRT)