The most common symptom of a spinal cord or spine tumor is pain. The pain can be located near the level of the tumor or it may radiate around the side, down the arm or down the leg. The latter complaints are related to pressure on the nerve roots that come off of the spinal cord. Symptoms may be very similar to a disc herniation. Eventually, loss of strength may be seen.
Sensory loss is also common.
In the case of an intramedullary tumor, so-called dissociated sensory loss is common. In these cases, there is loss of sensitivity to pain and temperature below the tumor but preserved sensitivity to light touch. Gradual pressure on the spinal cord can cause spasticity. Symptoms may come on gradually and then suddenly become more severe. This is particularly true in metastatic disease.