A bone spur in the lumbar spine (lower back area) can be extremely painful and can interfere with your ability to enjoy day-to-day life. Also called an osteophyte, a bone spur is a calcium deposit that forms when a bone experiences friction. In the spine, this can occur when disc or cartilage deterioration causes vertebrae to rub against one another. Bone spur treatment becomes necessary when the spinal cord or a nerve root is compressed, producing pain, numbness, tingling and other symptoms that can radiate to other parts of the body. The lower back is especially susceptible to the development of bone spurs because of the amount of bending and twisting this area of the spine endures, and the weight it must support.

Exercises that may help

There are a variety of strengthening exercises that are designed to put minimal strain on the lower back and can help alleviate the symptoms that a lumbar bone spur can cause. By building the core muscles supporting the spine and utilizing other conservative treatments, you may be able to reduce your symptoms enough that you are able to return to a normal, active lifestyle. As always, you should get your physician’s approval before attempting any type of treatment.

Exercises that might be included in a lumbar bone spur treatment regimen include:

• Wall sits
• Hamstring stretches
• Crunches
• Pelvic tilts
• Planks

You may also choose to incorporate alternative treatments such as restorative yoga, Pilates and massage therapy into your treatment plan, though the clinical effectiveness of these options is still being debated.

USA Spine Care offers minimally invasive bone spur treatment

While conservative and alternative bone spur treatments can help manage your symptoms, they won’t address the underlying condition that caused the bone spur to develop. This can only be accomplished through surgery, such as minimally invasive laminotomy or foraminotomy surgery at USA Spine Care. We have performed more than 75,000 patient procedures, and we would be happy to provide you with a free MRI review* to help determine if you are a candidate for our outpatient procedures.

Contact USA Spine Care today to learn more about our minimally invasive bone spur treatment options.