Bone Spurs

Symptoms of Bone Spurs


The symptoms of spinal bone spurs can vary from person to person, and from location to location in the spine. For many, spinal bone spurs will create a legion of physical and sometimes neurological symptoms.

For some, bone spurs may go completely unnoticed. For others, spurs can cause excruciating pain as they press on adjacent spinal nerves. If you are experiencing the latter, you are most likely on the hunt for relief. And, our team of spine specialists at The Advanced Spine Center of NJ is ready to help you find it. Our experienced and knowledgeable team of clinicians have earned years of experience in diagnosing and treating a variety of complex spinal conditions. They will work one-on-one with you to pinpoint any contributing factors and nip them in the bud.

Causes of Bone Spurs


There are a few reasons that bone spurs may arise in the spine. Of course, most of these are all related to inflammation and joint degeneration. However, the root of this degeneration can vary. Here are just a few causes of bone spur development:

Age: Most cases of bone spur development can fall into this main category. The aging process leads to a whole host of conditions and circumstances that promote bone spur growth. Degenerative Disc Disease is one of these main conditions. Through normal wear and tear, the intervertebral discs dry out, thin, and break. This causes compression in the spine, and the vertebrae can find themselves stacking closer together. Vertebrae begin to rub directly on one another. And without their cushioning intervertebral disc companions to buffer, irritation and inflammation can ensue. Nerves become pinched, pain follows, and bone spurs develop to try to counteract all of this.

Injury: Injury is another common source of bone spur growth. Trauma to the spine can lead to damage to the bone and inflammation. If the injury does not heal, or has trouble healing, these damaged bones can start to develop bone spurs to try to alleviate the problem. Especially when a break or fracture is involved, the bones will always want to grow to promote stability. If this growth happens anywhere near a nerve, painful trouble can ensue.

Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis is a condition that causes accelerated degeneration of the cartilage between joints. That right there tells us it creates the prime environment for bone spurs. Needless to say, individuals with Osteoarthritis also tend to develop many bone spurs.

Bone Spurs Treatment Options

Pain Management

Pain management is a first line of offense to combat bone spur pain. Nonsteroidal NSAIDs such as ibuprofen can cut down on the pain and inflammation of minor bone spur pain. For more intense pain, stronger medications or corticosteroid injections may be needed.

Foraminotomy

The foramina are small openings in the vertebrae that allow for the passage of spinal nerves. These nerves are responsible for relaying signals between the brain and body. Bone spurs can hinder message transmission. A foraminotomy creates space to reverse symptoms. Read more...

Laminectomy

The lamina is the bony covering on the back of the spinal canal that protects the spinal cord. When a bone spur grows into or around this space, the spinal cord or nerves can become pinched. A laminectomy can remove the lamina to create more space and alleviate pain. Read more...

Microdiscectomy

Sometimes nerves can be pinched by a bone spur and a bulging or herniated disc. In fact, herniated discs can often develop for the same precipitating reasons that bone spurs do. A minimally invasive microdiscectomy removes a portion of the damaged disc to relieve pain. Read more...