If you have been diagnosed with a bone spur or suspect you are suffering from one, you may be wondering what you can do to alleviate your symptoms. Educating yourself on your condition and understanding the treatment options available to you is the best way to make an informed decision about how to proceed.
What is a spinal bone spur?
Bone spurs, also referred to as osteophytes, are small and smooth projections that occur on the surface of a normal bone. They can arise on any bone and happen for a number of different reasons, the most common being friction caused by everyday wear and tear. When bones undergo friction, the body’s natural reaction to is create a calcium deposit to strengthen the bones so they can withstand the friction endured.
Because the vertebrae of the spine are constantly exposed to friction due to everyday movement, the spine is a common place for a bone spur to develop. When a bone spur does arise on the spine, it can compress the spinal cord or a nearby nerve root, which is generally the cause of painful and uncomfortable symptoms.
What causes a bone spur?
The most common causes of bone spurs on the spine include:
- The natural aging process
- Traumatic injury to the spine
- Spinal osteoarthritis
- Disc degeneration
Additionally, having excess body weight as well as smoking can contribute to the development of a bone spur in the spine. Poor posture and unhealthy eating habits also play a role in your risk of spinal bone spurs.
What are the bone spur treatment options?
To treat your spinal bone spur, your doctor will likely begin you on a regimen of conservative treatment options that may include:
- Over-the-counter or prescription pain medication
- Corticosteroid injections
- Low-impact exercise
- Stretching
- Anti-inflammatory medication
If after several weeks or months of conservative therapy you are still experiencing painful symptoms, it may be time to consider another approach, such as the minimally invasive spine surgery offered by USA Spine Care. We perform a number of different procedures to treat spinal bone spurs, including laminotomy, discectomy and foraminotomy surgeries. To date, we have performed nearly 100,000 patient procedures.
To learn more about the outpatient procedures we offer to treat bone spurs and other common spine conditions, contact USA Spine Care today. We can also provide you with a free MRI review* to help determine if you are candidate for our outpatient procedures.
