What are bone spurs?
Bone spurs are overgrowths of bone, sometimes called osteophytes. They often form where bones meet each other.
What causes bone spurs?
Bone spurs mainly form from joint damage associated with osteoarthritis. Because there is no more cartilage, the joint turns into “bone-on-bone”. Because it is unstable, the bone grows in ways to keep the joint stable. An example of a joint that is located in the spine where this occurs is the facet joints. These are the joints in the back of your spine that allow you to move, extend, and rotate your body. When these joints become arthritic, the bone rubs along each other and, hence, form. These bone spurs may be asymptomatic and are usually a show of wear and tear over time, though sometimes they produce symptoms.
What are symptoms of bone spurs?
Most bone spurs do not cause any symptoms and may be picked up incidentally during a routine X-ray of the spine. When there are bone spurs in the spine, it can cause a number of different symptoms depending on where the spur is located.
- Joint grinding: When there is no cartilage or lubricant between the joints of the spine, the bones rub against each other which can cause pain. This occurs because nerves that supply the facet joint transmit pain to the brain.
- Compression of the spinal nerve: The facet joint helps form the neural foramina, which is the bone tunnel where spinal nerves exit to innervate muscles, skin, and other organs. If the opening is smaller, it may compress on the spinal nerve and cause pain, which inevitably leads to radicular pain, or pain that wraps around your abdomen, your groin, or down your arm or leg. It may also lead to tingling and numbness.
- Compression of spinal cord: if it grows large enough, it can enter into the spinal canal. This may decrease the area for the spinal cord which can lead to weakness, pain, or problems with your bladder or bowel as the spinal cord gets pinched by the excess bone.
How are Bone Spurs Diagnosed?
In addition to obtaining a detailed history, Dr. Webb will use your x- rays and/or CT scan to identify and diagnose bone spur formation.
How are Bone Spurs treated?
Most patients with bone spurs can be treated conservatively with anti-inflammatories and other pain medications. Just because a bone spur is present does not mean it is the source of the pain. Bone spurs may be asymptomatic, while something else may be causing the pain.
Level 1 – Conservative Treatment
- Physical therapy
- Home exercises
- Chiropractic therapy
- Oral medications to relieve the pain
- Ibuprofen
- Naproxen
- Steroids
- Muscle relaxants
- Pain patches
- Ice and heat
Level 2 -Spinal Injections
- Done on an outpatient basis
- Injections are done with x-ray guidance to help accurately place the needle in the correct part of the spine
Level 3 – Surgery
- Bone spur removal: this is a procedure where the bone spur is removed with special instruments in surgery.
- Laminectomy: also known as decompression surgery, a lumbar laminectomy is a procedure that involves removing the lamina or back part of the spinal cord vertebrae. This procedure is usually done to make more space and take pressure off of the spinal cord. This pressure is most commonly caused by bone spurs. Learn more about lumbar laminectomy.
- Foraminotomy: The spinal nerves leave the spinal canal by going through the intervertebral foramen, which is a bony archway between two adjacent spinal vertebrae. If the bony spur is compressing the nerve as it exits the foramen, then a procedure called a foraminotomy can be done to make more space for the spinal nerve to exit, and thus relieve compression. Learn more about a foraminotomy.