Bone Spurs

Understanding the Symptoms, Causes & Treatments for Bone Spurs

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Reviewed by: Dr. Christopher Good, Dr. Colin Haines, Dr. Ehsan Jazini, Dr. William Kemp

Understanding Bone Spurs

Many patients are told that they have bone spurs or osteophytes in their back or neck. Bone spurs are simply an indication that there are increased forces on the joints of the spine. With increased forces on the intervertebral discs and facet joints in the spine, instability may occur as well. In response to this over time, the body remodels bone to decrease the stress on the joints or to increase surface area to prevent instability. 

In many cases, osteophytes and other degenerative changes may be considered the normal process of aging. Their presence does not necessarily mean that they are the actual cause of pain. However, there are a number of common spinal conditions associated with pain that are related to their development. These conditions include spondylosis, cervical or lumbar radiculopathy, and spinal stenosis.

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Symptoms of Bone Spurs

Patients with osteophytes that are symptomatic often describe stiffness in the neck, mid or lower back. This stiffness may be associated with a dull ache and possibly a lack of mobility or range of motion. This lack of mobility is often noted in the neck and lower back when patients attempt to bend forwards or backward or rotate left or right. The presence of bone spurs may be an indication of an underlying spinal condition, for example, degenerative disc disease. Depending on the extent and location of the bone spur, the nerves branching off of the spinal cord may be affected. If this is the case, patients may also experience radicular symptoms such as pain, numbness, or tingling that radiates into the arms or legs.

When to Seek Treatment for Bone Spurs

If you’re noticing symptoms associated with Bone Spurs and suspect a spinal issue, it’s crucial to consider consulting a board-certified spinal specialist. Reach out promptly to a certified spine surgeon for an accurate diagnosis and timely treatment. Early intervention can significantly improve your overall well-being and provide a broader range of treatment options, which may decrease as symptoms persist. The key to a successful and speedy recovery lies in addressing the root of the pain with your spine specialist as soon as symptoms arise.

While many people experience day-to-day back or neck pain, dismissing it as soreness, this may not be the case for everyone. If your pain persists for more than 10 days, it should be taken more seriously. Evaluate such prolonged pain with a spine surgeon to identify the root issue and determine the appropriate treatment. Additionally, be attentive to other signs related to back or neck pain that should not be ignored, including pain accompanied by fever, pain associated with loss of bladder control, and weakness/tingling/numbness in your arms or legs.

It’s important to note that these are general guidelines based on our expertise in spine care over the past three decades, recognizing that each patient’s symptoms may be unique.

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Common Causes of Bone Spurs

Typically osteophytes are caused by degeneration in the joints of the spine as well as part of the natural aging process. In some cases, trauma, injury, and osteoarthritis can cause bone spurs.

Risk Factors for Bone Spurs

There are several risk factors that could make it more likely for you to develop bone spurs or osteophytes. Some of these risk factors include:

  • Aging
  • Obesity – Excess weight may produce increased force across a joint, especially in a weight-bearing joint, that may lead to arthritis or spondylosis which typically cause osteophytes
  • Joint Injury – Arthritis, which may lead to osteophytes, may develop after an injury to a joint involving ligament tears or fractures.
  • Genetics – There are heredity forms of arthritis due to certain rare mutations in structural collagen types found in articular cartilage.
solutions being pipetted into various test tubes
solutions being pipetted into various test tubes

Diagnosing Bone Spurs

Bone spurs are often associated with other spinal conditions such as spondylosis or degenerative disc disease. Providers may be suspicious of these conditions if abnormal range of motion is noted on a physical exam. Diagnosis of osteophytes can be made easily with x-ray imaging. Standing radiographs of your neck, mid, or low back will be obtained depending on the location of your symptoms. In some instances, a further work-up is warranted and MRI or CT scans may be ordered.

Treatment Options for Bone Spurs

Most patients with mild or moderate nerve compression from osteophytes can manage symptoms effectively with non-surgical care including:

If these treatments do not alleviate symptoms, surgical intervention may be considered.

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Can Bone Spurs be Prevented?

Understanding the root cause of your bone spur is the key to preventing further bone spurs. Sometimes, bone spurs are hereditary and underlying medical conditions can contribute to the formation of bone spurs. However, if it is caught early enough, conservative treatment options may be all you need in slowing down the growth of bone spurs and preventing new ones from forming.

Frequently Asked Questions about Bone Spurs

If you do not have any pain or discomfort associated with the bone spur then no treatment is not necessary. However, it is important to understand the underlying cause for the bone spur such as premature degeneration or instability issues of your spine. Understanding the root cause allows you to make educated medical decisions and take an active role in your care. Often, having a better understanding of your spinal health and making any necessary lifestyle adjustments prevents problems from worsening later and will possibly help slow down the degenerative process.

Not necessarily. Our goal at VSI is to educate the patient on all available treatment options. Often we initially recommend conservative, non-surgical management as most patients respond very well to this. However, we understand that each person is different. If conservative measure do not improve symptoms, more invasive treatments such as injections or surgical intervention may be discussed.

Understanding the root cause of your bone spur is the key to preventing further bone spurs. Sometimes, bone spurs are hereditary and underlying medical conditions can contribute to the formation of bone spurs. However, if it is caught early enough, conservative treatment options may be all you need in slowing down the growth of bone spurs and preventing new ones from forming.

Bone spurs can occur due to a patient’s genetic predisposition to early degenerative changes which cause these bone spurs. Other medical conditions, such as osteoarthritis or osteoporosis, increase a patient’s likelihood for making bone spurs. This is why a detailed medical history is vital to your spinal care. Make sure you let your spine specialist know all of your other medical conditions or family history of spinal conditions during the initial consultation.

Unfortunately bone spurs can not go away on its own. However, the symptoms caused by the bone spurs typically respond well to conservative treatments such as spine-specialized physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications or injections. Sometimes, surgical intervention may be recommended depending on the extent of your bone spurs and the symptoms you are having. Treatments are tailored specifically for each patient. Speak to your spine specialist about your problems and let us develop a treatment plan specifically for you.

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