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Spinal tumours
A guide for patients and carers
Download this booklet in PDF format (1426kb)
Other treatments
Steroids
Steroids are used to reduce any swelling in the spine. This helps to relieve pressure on the spinal cord and nerves and provides some protection from spinal cord compression. Steroids are usually given during a course of radiotherapy or before surgery. Dexamethasone is the name of the steroid most commonly used to treat spinal tumours.
Side effects of steroids might occur after several weeks of treatment and can include
- weight gain,
- acne,
- stretch marks,
- muscle weakness,
- diabetes,
- sleep disturbance,
- hunger and
- feelings of elation.
For most people, these side effects go when the steroids are stopped.
Steroid tablets can irritate the lining of the stomach and increase thelikelihood of getting stomach ulcers. You might be given anti-ulcerdrugs to reduce the risk. You might also be given an antacid drugeither in liquid or tablet form.
Pain-relief drugs
For people with spinal tumours, pain-relief drugs are used mainly to control back or neck pain. They might be combined with other drugs to control nausea (feeling sick) and vomiting (being sick). If a morphine based drug is used, it might be combined with a drug to reduce the risk of constipation as a side effect. There are many different types of pain-relief drugs and your doctors will try to use the most effective one for your individual situation.
Physiotherapy
If you have weakness in your limbs, physiotherapy exercises can help to improve your strength, co-ordination and balance. The aim of physiotherapy is to maximise the speed and extent of your recovery after your main treatment, ensuring that you regain and maintain independence as soon as possible. Even if you are experiencing complete paralysis of a limb, exercise and movement is important to ensure that the joints do not become stiff and you do not experience spasticity (muscle spasms) or muscle contractions.
Sometimes, special techniques can be used to compensate for paralysis. These techniques assist particular movements and can help maintain mobility and independence (for example,techniques to assist getting in and out of bed or using a wheelchair).
Paralysis of the limbs, or a significant loss of strength and movement, can increase the risk of spasticity (muscle spasms) and stiffness. People can find it difficult to move their legs and they might find that their legs jump or twitch in bed. Different drugs are available to help reduce stiffness and muscle spasms (for example, Baclofen, or Botox injections). These drugs can improve mobility and comfort, especially when combined with regular gentle exercise to stretch the affected muscles.
Occupational therapy
An occupational therapist can give advice on everyday activities such as washing, dressing, cooking, eating and using equipment around the home. The aim is to help people regain and maintain their independence. They can also give practical advice for people in their workplace.
Sometimes, a small piece of equipment or minor adaptation is all that is required to make someone’s everyday life easier. For example, problems relating to access can often be overcome with alterations such as ramps and handrails.
Bladder and bowel management
If you have problems controlling your bladder, you might require a urinary catheter. This is a tube inserted into the bladder to drain away urine. Your doctors can advise you if they think a urinary catheter would be helpful for you.
People with bladder problems often also have problems with the function of their bowel. It might be that your bowel can be retrained to ensure regular motions. Your doctor or nurses can advise you.
Skin care
Any areas of the body with numbness or a loss of feeling are susceptible to pressure sores because the person will not feel any points of pressure when they are sitting or lying in bed.
If someone is experiencing severe numbness or loss of feeling, they should be turned frequently in bed to change their position and prevent pressure sores. It is important to keep the skin clean and dry to maintain a healthy condition. This sort of nursing care can be demanding and it might be difficult to carry out at home. Specially designed beds and support cushions are available to help prevent pressure sores. These can make home care easier. If someone is experiencing a loss of temperature sensation it is important to take care to avoid burns from bath water.
Complementary therapies
Some people find that complementary treatments and therapies such as acupuncture, massage, hydrotherapy, aromatherapy and reflexology are helpful. Most doctors would only recommend using these treatments and therapies alongside established medical treatments rather than as a substitute for them. You should check with your doctors or nurses that these therapies are safe to use alongside your main treatment.
Complementary treatments and therapies are unlikely to provide specific treatment for your tumour but they might help to improve your general well-being.
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