Bone Spurs

Bone spurs are usually harmless and don’t require any treatment, and when they cause symptoms, the management is often simple.

Bone spurs

Bone spurs are bony growths that form on the edges of the bone and often where bones meet each other in the joint.

Osteophytes are common and usually don’t cause any symptoms except for when they irritate the soft tissues.

Causes of bone spurs

In most of the cases, bone spurs occur from damage in the bones or the tissues around them, and this damage can occur due to the following:

• Age-related wear and tear.
• Injuries and accidents.
• Conditions and diseases, such as osteoarthritis (the most common), osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, ankylosing spondylitis, degenerative disk disease, rotator cuff tendinitis, spinal stenosis, foot tendonitis, and repetitive strain injuries.

Symptoms of bone spurs

• Bone spurs occur when the body tries to repair damage in the tissue, and they mostly affect the bones that receive a lot of stress (like the heels, spine, knees, hands, shoulders, and hip) in addition to the joints where ligaments or tendons attach to the bone.
• Osteophytes don’t cause symptoms in most cases, but sometimes they can cause pain and loss of motion in the joints.
• Sometimes, you can see the bone spur when it’s close to the skin in the form of a bump or a knob, and you might feel it when bending or extending the joint.
• Bone spurs on the spine can cause serious symptoms because they can interfere with the nerves in the spinal cord or compress them.

Diagnosis of bone spurs

• Physical exam.
• Imaging tests.

Treatment of bone spurs

Bone spurs don’t require treatment unless they start to cause symptoms, and treatments include the following:

• Pain relievers.
• Physical therapy.
• A surgery to remove them.