Treatment FAQ

what is the treatment for bone spurs on the spine?

by Ulices Rowe PhD Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
image

Treatment methods may include weight loss, stretching and physical therapy, rest and ice. Injections can reduce inflammation long enough to relieve symptoms. Medications such as ibuprofen or injections may be administered for pain. Bone spurs can be surgically removed in the case of serious damage and deformity.

Medication

Top 10 Home Remedies for Bone Spurs...

  • Symptoms of Bone Spurs…. ...
  • Bone Spurs be Gone! ...
  • Natural Remedy for Bone Spurs #1... ...
  • Home Remedy for Bone Spurs/Heal Spurs #2... ...
  • Natural Remedy for Bone Spurs #4... ...
  • Home Remedy for Bone Spurs #5... ...

More items...

Nutrition

What you can do

  • List your symptoms and how long you've had them.
  • Write down key medical information, including other conditions you have, all medications and supplements you take, and family history of bone or joint disease.
  • Note recent injuries that affected a joint.
  • Write down questions to ask your doctor.

See more

These symptoms depend on the location of the spur and its nature. A bone spur in the lumbar region may cause pain, stiffness, numbness, tingling or weakness in the lower back and surrounding tissues and joints, sometimes extending to the legs and feet

How can you eliminate bone spurs without surgery?

How do you treat bone spurs in the neck?

  • rest.
  • cold compresses to reduce pain.
  • steroid shots to decrease inflammation and subsequent pain.
  • over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to be used on a temporary basis only.
  • acetaminophen (Tylenol) for mild pain.

How do you treat osteophytes in the spine?

What does a bone spur on the spine feel like?

How do you treat a bone spur in the neck?

image

How serious are bone spurs on the spine?

On your vertebrae, bone spurs can narrow the space that contains your spinal cord. These bone spurs can pinch the spinal cord or its nerve roots and can cause weakness or numbness in your arms or legs. Hip. Bone spurs can make it painful to move your hip, although you might feel the pain in your knee.

How do you get rid of bone spurs in the spine?

Do They Go Away? Once a bone spur is grown, it will not disappear or reabsorb. There is no way to get rid of a bone spur besides cutting it off, but this is typically not recommended, unless the spur is critically compressing a nerve or the spinal cord, causing weakness.

Do bone spurs in the back require surgery?

Nonsurgical Treatment for Bone Spurs Most patients with mild or moderate nerve compression and irritation from bone spurs can manage their symptoms effectively without surgery. The goal of nonsurgical treatment is to stop the cycle of inflammation and pain.

Do bone spurs need to be removed?

Bone spurs don't go away unless you have surgery to remove them.

How long does it take to recover from a bone spur surgery?

How long does it take to recover from a bone spur surgery? Recovery from bone spur surgery can take 2 to 4 weeks. Recovering from a bone spur is relatively short and depends where the surgery is performed. Sutures can be removed after 2 and it will take approximately 2 more weeks to get back into shoes comfortably.

What dissolves bone spurs?

How to dissolve bone spurs naturally? Tenex is a new technology that can treat small to medium-sized bone spurs. Tenex is a minimally invasive procedure that utilizes ultrasonic energy to treat tendonitis and plantar fasciitis.

What causes bone spurs on your spine?

Spinal bone spurs often form as a result of chronic inflammation, which can develop within areas where cartilage has worn away due to spinal arthritis. This condition breaks down the cartilage that cushions the ends of bone. As your body attempts to repair this loss, it can create bone spurs near the damaged area.

Can a chiropractor help with bone spurs in the back?

Your chiropractor can also help you relieve pain from bone spurs with spinal manipulations. Spinal manipulations can be extremely helpful if you have limited mobility or experience nerve compression. With a spinal manipulation, your chiropractor can help realign vertebrae to correct your posture.

Do bone spurs keep growing?

Although the name “spur” suggests something sharp, bone spurs are usually smooth and may or may not cause any symptoms. Over time, a bone spur may continue to grow, leading to painful irritation of surrounding soft tissue like tendons, ligaments or nerves.

Can laser surgery remove bone spurs?

Fact: There is no such procedure or surgery as Laser Spine Surgery. The laser is simply a tool that MAY be used in spine procedures or surgery to remove disc tissue, ligaments and small bone spurs. Surgeons often used radiofrequency ablation in lieu of a laser, which is equally as effective on tissue but much safer.

Are bone spurs and arthritis the same thing?

Osteoarthritis is a very common cause of bone spurs because they form in places of continued rubbing over long periods of time. Yet bone spurs can also be caused by tendinitis, inflammation, or medical conditions that target just one part of the body, such as plantar fasciitis.

What vitamin is good for bone spurs?

Vitamin C and Arthritis A study at Duke University found that high levels of vitamin C activated a protein that causes bone spurs, which in turn actually accelerates joint damage and pain in patients with osteoarthritis.

What Causes Spinal Bone Spurs?

The most common cause of bone spurs is osteoarthritis. As osteoarthritis breaks down your bone cartilage, your body attempts to repair the damage by creating bony growths. Spinal bone spurs are also commonly found in those with degenerative disk disease.

Who is Most at Risk?

Spinal bone spurs are typically found in those aged 60 and older. However, they can occur at any age. Bone spurs are frequently found in those who have joint pain, arthritis, or degenerative disk disease. Athletes and those who live a physically active lifestyle are also at risk of developing bone spurs due to repetitive impacts on their joints.

Symptoms of Spinal Bone Spurs

Most of the time, bone spurs are asymptomatic and painless. However, they may cause pain and stiffness in the joints in some cases. If a bone spur grows large enough in the spine, it can press on nerves causing pain, tingling, weakness, or numbness in the legs. Other symptoms include:

Diagnosing Spinal Bone Spurs

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above, your doctor may order an X-ray or MRI to aid in diagnosis. Ultrasound and CT scans are also used to diagnose this condition. When determining the severity of your bone spurs, your doctor will look at the size and location as well as how far they protrude from the spine.

Ways to Treat Spinal Bone Spurs

When treating bone spurs, your doctor will look at the symptoms you are experiencing and how severe they are. The goal of treatment is to minimize pain, stiffness, weakness, and numbness.

Contact the Spine Pro Today

Dr. Hooman Melamed at The Spine Pro offers a patient-first approach to minimally invasive treatment options. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms associated with spinal bone spurs or other spine-related conditions, call (424) 21-SPINE or make an appointment today.

Diagnosis

During the physical exam, your doctor might feel around your joint to pinpoint your pain. Your doctor might also order X-rays or other imaging tests to view your joints and bones.

Treatment

If your bone spurs cause pain, your doctor might recommend over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve, others).

Preparing for your appointment

You'll likely first see your family doctor, who might refer you to a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of joint disorders (rheumatologist).

How to treat lumbar bone spurs?

Treating lumbar bone spurs starts with an accurate diagnosis. The spine specialist will do this by conducting a physical exam, checking your medical history and asking about your symptoms . If the doctor believes that bone spurs or another spinal condition are the source of your pain, they’ll seek to confirm the diagnosis with the assistance ...

What is the best treatment for lumbar spine spurs?

Epidural Steroid Injections – These injections are helpful because they work to reduce swelling and inflammation in the lumbar spine, leading to decreased pain levels. Laminectomy – This surgical operation will permanently remove the spurs and alleviate any nerve compression.

What are the symptoms of lumbar bone spurs?

Although these are the common symptoms associated with bone spur development, the symptoms are similar to other spinal conditions, like a pinched nerve, arthritis, bulging discs or nerve problems, so it’s important to head to a doctor’s office to get to the bottom of your spine pain. Treating lumbar bone spurs starts with an accurate diagnosis.

Why do bone spurs develop?

The lumbar spine is a common place for bone spurs to develop because the discs in your lower spine act as stress absorbers, and they eventually start to wear down ...

How to remove bone spurs?

If you’ve been diagnosed with bone spurs, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll need to undergo surgery to remove them. Odds are you’ll begin with some conservative treatments, and progress to surgery if those methods fail. Here’s a look at some treatment options: 1 Anti-Inflammatory Medications – Bone spurs can cause inflammation, so while anti-inflammatories don’t do much to treat the root cause, they can help provide relief from bone spurs. 2 Physical Therapy/Exercise – Physical therapy and exercise work by increasing flexibility and strength in the area to protect against further bone spur development and to free nerves that may be irritated by the spurs. 3 Epidural Steroid Injections – These injections are helpful because they work to reduce swelling and inflammation in the lumbar spine, leading to decreased pain levels. 4 Laminectomy – This surgical operation will permanently remove the spurs and alleviate any nerve compression. This procedure has a high success rate, but is typically only pursued if conservative options don’t provide relief.

How do you know if you have bone spurs in your lumbar spine?

Here are some symptoms that may signal you’re suffering from bone spurs in your lumbar spine: Regionalized pain. Weakness in the arms or legs. Shooting pain with movement. Loss of range of motion in the lower spine. Bladder or bowel incontinence.

What can I do to help with bone spurs?

Here’s a look at some treatment options: Anti-Inflammatory Medications – Bone spurs can cause inflammation, so while anti-inflammatories don’t do much to treat the root cause, they can help provide relief from bone spurs.

How to treat a bone spur in the back?

Spinal bone spur treatment usually involves anti-inflammatory medication, rest, activity modification, exercises to strengthen core muscles that provide support for our back. If needed, physical therapy will be added to the treatment plan.

What is a spinal bone spur?

Spinal Bone Spurs. A spinal bone spur is a bone growth that has been formed as the body has tried to heal another problem . While not all spinal bone spurs will become problematic, when they do, the pain and other symptoms can become quite intense at times. A spinal bone spur can develop anywhere along the spine, ...

Why do I have bone spurs?

Joint damage from osteoarthritis is the most common cause of bone spurs. As osteoarthritis breaks down the cartilage cushioning the ends of your bones, your body attempts to repair the loss by creating bone spurs near the damaged area. In general, the risk of bone spurs is higher in people who have arthritis.

Can a cold application help with a bone spur?

Initial treatment is directed toward decreasing inflammation and avoiding reinjury when possible. A cold application can help if the location of the bone spur is accessible .

What causes bone spurs in the back?

Often a condition affecting people over the age of 60, bone spurs have a number of potential reasons for occurring: 1 Disc degeneration, a natural condition that occurs in most people as they age. This on-going phenomenon happens when discs in the spine wear down and start to rub together, potentially forming bone spurs 2 Suffering from a major traumatic injury might cause bone spurs if the injury has accelerated the degeneration of a patient’s spine, potentially causing friction and bone spurs, though this cause is less likely to occur 3 Spinal osteoarthritis is the wearing down of cartilage between joints, leaving no cushion between the bone to bone contact in the spine. This can cause high levels of contact and friction between bones 4 Unfortunately, aging is a potential source of bone spurs. As we age, our connective tissues tighten and can pull bones out of alignment. This leads to a potential situation where bones are meeting without any padding and grind together.

What does it mean when you have a bone spur?

The good news about a bone spur diagnosis is they are often asymptomatic, though having a diagnosis may mean that other health issues are occurring or symptoms are already detected by that point in time. The symptoms that tend to arise with bone spurs in the spine occur when they pinch or put pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots in the spine. These symptoms depend on the location of the spur and its nature.

What are the symptoms of a bone spur in the spine?

These symptoms depend on the location of the spur and its nature. A bone spur in the lumbar region may cause pain, stiffness, numbness, tingling or weakness in the lower back and surrounding tissues ...

What happens when discs in the spine wear down and start to rub together?

This on-going phenomenon happens when discs in the spine wear down and start to rub together, potentially forming bone spurs. Spinal osteoarthritis is the wearing down of cartilage between joints, leaving no cushion between the bone to bone contact in the spine.

How to help a stiff spine?

Corticosteroid injections in the spine can alleviate pain and pressure. Physical therapy and exercise will help with movement and reduce stiffness and pain. Physical therapists may also be able to employ special techniques such as heat application to provide additional relief.

Can aging cause bone spurs?

Unfortunately, aging is a potential source of bone spurs. As we age, our connective tissues tighten and can pull bones out of alignment. This leads to a potential situation where bones are meeting without any padding and grind together.

Is open back surgery invasive?

Traditional open-back methods may cause more pain and are more invasive to the muscles adjacent to the affected area. Fortunately, we provide minimally invasive procedures that can provide a safer alternative and superior benefits, for instance, a faster recovery and smaller puncture.

What is it called when bone spurs grow in the spinal cord?

When bone spurs grow in these openings, they can press on the exiting nerve roots — a condition called foramen stenosis.

What causes bone spurs?

A variety of factors, usually age-related, can contribute to bone spurs. Heredity, trauma caused by sports or accident-related injuries, nutrition, poor posture and structural problems that patients are born with can put people at risk of developing spinal bone spurs.

How to tell if you have a spinal bone spur?

Common symptoms associated with spinal bone spurs include: Radiating pain to buttocks or shoulders. Dull pain, especially when standing or walking. Numbness. Burning or tingling, such as a pins and needles sensation in the hands or feet. Muscle spasms or cramps. Muscle weakness or wobbly joints.

Where do bone spurs grow?

Also called osteophytes, bone spurs can grow anywhere throughout the body but are most often found in spinal structures . Spinal bone spurs typically grow along the edge of facet joints where vertebrae meet each other or on the bones of the spine.

Can spinal bone spurs cause pain?

These bony growths can develop at any level of the spinal column — in the neck, middle back or lower back. Not every spinal bone spur causes pain. However, these projections can cramp the space of nearby structures, including spinal nerves and the spinal cord, leading to painful symptoms. ViewMedica 8. Start Picture-in-Picture.

Can bone spurs hurt?

Although the bony projections themselves are not painful, they can affect nearby tissue and nerves leading to painful symptoms, especially when located on the spine. Treatment of spinal bone spurs is available at Desert Institute for Spine Care in Arizona. Our spinal specialists can help you find relief from painful symptoms ...

Can bone spurs be removed?

While some patients benefit from conservative treatment methods, if the bone spur is pressing on a nerve or interfering with your normal ability to function, spinal bone spur removal surgery may be necessary.

What is bone spur?

Overview. Bone spurs are bony projections that develop along bone edges. Bone spurs (osteophytes) often form where bones meet each other — in your joints. They can also form on the bones of your spine. The main cause of bone spurs is the joint damage associated with osteoarthritis. Most bone spurs cause no symptoms and can go undetected for years.

What are some examples of bone spurs?

Examples include: Knee. Bone spurs in your knee can make it painful to extend and bend your leg. Spine. On your vertebrae, bone spurs can narrow the space that contains your spinal cord. These bone spurs can pinch the spinal cord or its nerve roots and can cause weakness or numbness in your arms or legs. Hip.

Where do bone spurs form?

Bone spurs (osteophytes) often form where bones meet each other — in your joints. They can also form on the bones of your spine.

Can bone spurs go undetected?

Most bone spurs cause no symptoms and can go undetected for years. They might not require treatment. If treatment is needed, it depends on where spurs are located and how they affect your health.

Can bone spurs cause herniated discs?

Bone spurs on spine. As your spine ages, it's more likely to experience bone spurs or herniated disks. These problems can reduce the amount of space available for your spinal cord and the nerves that branch off it. Most bone spurs cause no signs or symptoms.

Neck retractions

While either in a seated or standing position, keep your head in a forward-facing position while gently pressing your fingers against your chin. You should feel a stretch along the back of your neck.

Correct posture

Your physical therapist will also help you learn how to maintain a correct posture to improve your symptoms. Try this throughout the day by keeping these tips in mind:

image
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9