Spinal bone spur treatment is aimed toward relieving pain and other symptoms associated with nerve compression caused by an outgrowth of bone from the spinal vertebrae. A bone spur, or osteophyte, typically develops as a result of joint instability, often because of arthritis. Bone spurs are smooth, excess growths of bone, and they can form along the edges of vertebrae within an arthritic spine. In many cases, spinal osteophytes are asymptomatic. Sometimes, though, bone spurs grow large enough or are positioned to make contact with a nearby spinal nerve. In these cases, it is important to work with your doctor to develop a treatment plan.

Conservative spinal bone spur treatment options

No two cases are alike, which means no two bone spur treatment plans will be exactly alike. However, several treatment methods have proven effective for many people, especially when the right combination is found. Commonly prescribed methods include:

• Exercise to improve cardiovascular and core muscle strength
• Stretching to improve flexibility
• Epidural steroid injections to reduce swelling and pain
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for swelling and pain relief
• Analgesic medication for pain
• Lifestyle changes, like a weight-loss plan or quitting smoking

There are many other nonsurgical methods used for spinal bone spur treatment, including alternative treatments like chiropractic adjustment, acupuncture and electrical stimulation. The precise combination prescribed by your physician or other health care provider will depend on how your symptoms respond over time. It might require a period of trial and error to determine the right combination. If conservative or alternative treatments are exhausted without relieving pain and restoring normal movement, the possibility of surgery is often explored.

Is surgical bone spur treatment right for you?

Before consenting to any form of open spine surgery for the treatment of bone spurs, ask us about the minimally invasive outpatient spine surgery offered by USA Spine Care. Our procedures are an alternative to traditional open spine surgery because our board-certified⁺ surgeons use a less than 1-inch incision to access the spine, meaning our patients enjoy less risk of complication compared to traditional procedures.

To learn more, reach out to our dedicated team of Spine Care Consultants today for a no-cost MRI review* to see if you may be a candidate for minimally invasive spine surgery at USA Spine Care.

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