Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Tumor growth

Can heating and area of the back with a heating pad for hours a day and night cause a tumor to grow (vascular) aggressively in size in 2 months.  
2 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
my son had back pain. we went to an orthopedist who sent us for MRI after he examined him.  We had the MRI.  The radiologist misread the films, and diagnosed my son with a disk bulge at L5/S1. The orthopedist never looked at the films, just treated it as a bulge, and sent us for PT.  My son had a lump near the L2 vertebra visible to the eye, but the doctor said it was muscle spasm.  So, what do you do for muscle spasm either heat or ice. PT used heat and stimulation (tens unit), and it seemed to help the pain a little.  So, my son used the heating pad when he was home, as well as a portable tens unit for the pain.  After my 7 weeks, my son could barely walk. He was almost paralized.  The tumor grew so big that it was on the neuroformial nerves  causing cauda equina and root compression of te upper lumbar area on the right side.  We had another MRI which showed that the tumor destroyed the L2 vertebra and extending into the other vertebras from the T12 to L4. the mass was 4.4x6.6cm.  The tumor ended up being benign an osteoblastoma. The tumor destroyed the pedicle and the L2 vertebra.  It extended anteriorly.  After getting a copy of the original MRI film, the tumor was visible and contained strictly within the L2 vertebra and was very small in size in comparison to the MRI 7 weeks later. I am trying to see if the heat caused this tumor to become so very perivascular.  The tumor was very destructive, but they were able to remove it successfully.  Unfortunately, we put my son in the hands of an incompetent doctor and incompent radiologist, who caused my son to suffer extruiating pain and suffering, and extensive surgery just because they didn't look at the films sufficiently.  After my son continued to get worse and worse, I insisted on another MRI and the same radiologist perfomed the MRI, but this time the tumor was so huge it was taking over everything so he couldn't miss it.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi mbd7273, how are you? Can you give some more details as to why you ended up in using the heating pad for such long hours and was it a kind of the heat therapy prescribed to you by any doctor? There are many factors, which causes the sudden growth of the tumor if it is a malignant one and only use of heating pad. Can you say the size of the tumor initially before you applied the heat and the present size? It is better to get examined by a surgeon at earliest and get investigated properly. Take care and share your thoughts.
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Orthopedics Community

Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Find out if PRP therapy right for you.
Tips for preventing one of the most common types of knee injury.
Tips and moves to ease backaches
How to bounce back fast from an ankle sprain - and stay pain free.
Patellofemoral pain and what to do about it.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.