Symptoms
Common symptoms
- Back or neck pain that worsens at night
- Numbness, tingling, or weakness
- Loss of coordination or balance
- Bowel or bladder changes
- Unexplained weight loss or systemic symptoms
Spinal
Tumors .
Spinal tumors involve abnormal growths in or around the spinal column or spinal nerves. These growths can compress nerves or the spinal cord, causing back pain, neurological symptoms, spinal instability, weakness, and loss of function.
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Diagnosis first. Treatment second.
Whole spine spine condition treated with conservative options first and motion-preserving surgery when needed.
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LA offices
Region
Whole spine
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Spinal Tumors at a glance
- What it is: Spinal tumors involve abnormal growths in or around the spinal column or spinal nerves. These growths can compress nerves or the spinal cord, causing back pain, neurological symptoms, spinal instability, weakness, and loss of function.
- Common symptoms: Back or neck pain that worsens at night; Numbness, tingling, or weakness; Loss of coordination or balance.
- First-line treatment: Multidisciplinary evaluation — Coordinated workup with imaging, biopsy when needed, and consultation with medical and radiation oncology.
- When surgery is considered: progressive symptoms, neurological changes, or pain unresponsive to conservative care.
Symptoms & causes
Understanding spinal tumors
Causes
Common causes
- Primary tumors of the spine
- Metastatic disease (cancer that has spread)
- Benign growths (schwannomas, meningiomas)
- Bone tumors involving vertebrae
How Dr. Yasmeh treats it
Treatment options
Dr. Yasmeh starts with the least-invasive option that fits your case and only escalates when clearly needed.
Conservative care
Step 1Conservative care first
Most patients improve without surgery. Dr. Yasmeh sequences therapy, medication, and targeted injections before considering operative options.
- Multidisciplinary evaluation — Coordinated workup with imaging, biopsy when needed, and consultation with medical and radiation oncology.
- Pain and supportive care — Targeted injections, bracing, and medication can manage symptoms while definitive treatment is planned.
Surgical care
When neededWhen surgery is the right answer
When non-operative care has not worked or symptoms are progressive, Dr. Yasmeh offers motion-preserving techniques whenever clinically appropriate.
- Surgical decompression and stabilization — When a tumor compresses the cord or destabilizes the spine, surgical relief and fixation may be required.
Common questions
About spinal tumors.
- Most patients improve with conservative care — physical therapy, medication, and targeted injections. Dr. Yasmeh only recommends surgery when symptoms are progressive, when there is neurological compromise, or when conservative care has not resolved the problem.
- Diagnosis combines a careful history, physical exam, and imaging (typically MRI). Dr. Yasmeh reviews your imaging with you in plain language so you understand what's happening.
- Yes — Dr. Yasmeh offers second opinions, especially for patients told they need fusion. He evaluates motion-preserving alternatives like laminoplasty or artificial disc replacement when clinically appropriate.
- Dr. Yasmeh sees patients at four offices across Greater Los Angeles: East LA (1700 E Cesar Chavez Ave), Glendale (1505 Wilson Terrace), Santa Fe Springs (12215 Telegraph Rd), and Tarzana (18840 Ventura Blvd).
Related procedures
Procedures Dr. Yasmeh performs for this condition
Ready when you are
Get clarity on your spinal tumors today.
Same-week appointments. Four Greater LA offices. Most insurance accepted.