Bone Spurs Definition, Causes, Symptoms, & Treatment

When one hears the term bone spurs, the definition it brings to mind may be of something sharp; in reality, though, bone spurs are small and rounded or knobby growths of bone that accumulate in or around joints or where connective tissues (such as ligaments or tendons) and bones meet. They are not, of themselves, painful or dangerous, and may in fact go entirely undetected for many years; however, they may make contact with soft tissue, nerves, or other bones, causing pain and loss of mobility and—potentially—requiring surgery.

Causes and Symptoms

Bone spurs result as the body reacts to damaged bone, ligaments, tendons, or cartilage. Inflammation in or near one of the joints can stimulate the cells that generate bone tissue to create bony deposits. The same can happen in a joint stricken with arthritis—whether it be osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or any other form—when such a condition causes cartilage to deteriorate. This is especially true when joint degeneration has led to bone-on-bone contact, since bone generation is the body’s normal reaction to bone damage. Additionally, bone spurs may form in response to prolonged pressure, friction, or physical stress. They commonly arise on the heel bone, for example, in response to Achilles tendonitis or even shoes that are too tight in the heel.

Bone spurs are not painful, but they can cause pain if they come into contact with tendons, ligaments, muscle, cartilage, nerves, or other bones. A common instance of this appears in the spine, where bones spurs may arise due to osteoarthritis, facet joint disease, ligament inflammation, herniated disc, or many other conditions. If a bone spur presses against a spinal nerve root, it can cause pain, numbness, and tingling; if it comes in contact with another vertebra, it can also restrict motion.

Treatment

Because many bone spurs do not present symptoms, it is often unnecessary to treat them. In the event that a bone spur does cause problems, conservative treatment options will often suffice to relieve symptoms. Since the bone spur may have arisen as a symptom of a more involved condition, though, it may be necessary to focus treatment on that condition. When bone spurs are problematic, surgery may be necessary. In some situations, such as a bone spur on the heel or within a joint, arthroscopic surgery enables a minimally invasive, outpatient approach.

This is also true of many spinal bone spurs, and this is why Laser Spine Institute is here to help. When bone spurs on the vertebrae compress a nerve or interfere with normal spine movement, our team of expert orthopedic surgeons employs the latest in laser-assisted endoscopic technology to address the problem in an outpatient setting. Our minimally invasive treatments enable you to have your bone spurs—or other spine problems, like a herniated disc or spinal stenosis—treated quickly and with less pain, scarring, and recovery time than is the case with traditional open back surgery.

To learn more, or to arrange a free review of your CT scan or MRI, contact Laser Spine Institute today.