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Treating an Osteophyte in the Spine

If you are suffering from an osteophyte in your spine, you are likely considering your various treatment options. Commonly known as a bone spur, an osteophyte is really a smooth growth of bone that is formed by the body as a response to damaged bone. As we grow older, the spinal anatomy naturally begins to deteriorate, and the body creates osteophytes in the spine to combat this degeneration and stave off the loss of bone mass. An osteophyte becomes painful when this growth of bone comes into contact with a nerve, soft tissue or another piece of bone.

Treatment Options

Treatment of an osteophyte in the spine is usually conservative at first and may either treat the cause or the symptoms of the bone spur. This is an important distinction. Treating the cause of the bone spur may entail:

• Losing a few extra pounds to alleviate stress on the spine
• Thoroughly stretching the affected area
• Strengthening the back or neck
• Improving your posture to ensure the correct alignment of the spine.

Your doctor may also recommend a combination of pain management techniques to alleviate your symptoms. These can include:

• Muscle relaxants, pain medication or anti-inflammatory medication
• Cortisone shots
• Heat therapy or ice packs
• Limited rest

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Endoscopic Procedures

In the event that you continue to experience back or neck pain as a result of an osteophyte in the spine, consider a minimally invasive outpatient procedure from the experts at Laser Spine Institute (LSI). Our endoscopic spine procedures are conducted with gentle, state-of-the-art laser technology, which allows our highly experienced orthopedists to pinpoint the location of your bone spur and carefully extract it. Unlike traditional open spine surgery which requires lengthy hospitalization and a complex recovery, an endoscopic procedure from LSI is completed quickly, and our patients typically walk out of our clinic a few short hours after their procedure is completed. Relief couldn’t be easier.

To learn more about the osteophyte in your spine and for more information on endoscopic spine procedures, contact Laser Spine Institute (LSI) today.

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