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• Bone Spurs

What Are Bone Spurs?

Although the technical name for these smooth growths of bone is “osteophytes,” the question that you’ve probably heard people ask time and time again is, “What are bone spurs?” Contrary to their name, these projections of bone are not actually sharp like spurs, but are round in shape. They generally form around joints and are a result of degenerative conditions.

The Birth of Bone Spurs

One such condition that might cause bone spurs is degenerative arthritis of the spine, also called osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis can occur in any of the body’s joints, including the facet joints of the spine, which are the hinge-like connections between vertebrae. If you have osteoarthritis in your facet joints, it means the cartilage surrounding the joints begins to deteriorate and wear away. This makes for very painful friction—ultimately, bone begins to rub against bone, sometimes causing a crunching feeling that is referred to as “crepitus.” Other symptoms include:

• Abnormal stiffness of the joint
• Spontaneous locking of the joint
• Throbbing or tenderness
• Limited range of motion

Root Causes and Symptoms

As osteoarthritis progresses in your spine, your body immediately senses that cartilage has worn away. To compensate for the loss, your body will begin the production of bone spurs. It is believed that the body hopes the extra growths of bone will make the spine stronger, but instead the bone spurs can intrude on spinal nerve roots. When these nerves are constricted, painful symptoms ensue, including:?

• Weakness or numbness
• Travelling or localized pain
• A tingling, “pins-and-needles” sensation

Treatments

Bone spurs are not the core problem; rather, they are a symptom of an underlying problem—such as a degenerative spine disease like arthritis. Luckily, there are ways to treat this affliction. Treatments can include anything from hot and cold compresses to chiropractic work, physical therapy, medication, and epidural steroid injections. If you find these therapies to be ineffective and your physician, orthopedist, or rheumatologist has suggested a spine operation, you should be aware of all your surgical options.

Click Here to see how you can get your life back in 5 days

The experts at Laser Spine Institute (LSI) offer minimally invasive, endoscopic procedures that have helped tens of thousands of people rediscover a life without pain. We not only want to answer the question of, “What are bone spurs?” but we also want to provide you with a solution. Contact us today for a free review of your MRI or CT scan.

Please note: Laser Spine Institute currently does not perform endoscopic procedures on the thoracic spine.