What is a Bone Spur? Is it Causing My Back Pain?

What is a bone spur?

A bone spur (also referred to as an osteophyte) is a bony growth formed on normal bone. Most people think of something sharp when they think of a “spur,” but a bone spur is just extra bone. It’s usually smooth, but it can cause wear and tear or pain if it presses or rubs on other bones or soft tissues such as ligaments, tendons, or nerves in the body. Common places for bone spurs include the spine, shoulders, hands, hips, knees, and feet.

Click here to see an example of a bone spur

In the picture linked above is an example of three small bone spurs on a pig specimen. Picture credit to Wikipedia.

A bone spur forms as the body tries to repair itself by building extra bone. It generally forms in response to pressure, rubbing, or stress that continues over a long period of time.

Some bone spurs form as part of the aging process. As we age, the slippery tissue called cartilage that covers the ends of the bones within joints breaks down and eventually wears away. In addition, the discs that provide cushioning between the bones of the spine may break down with age. Over time, this leads to pain and swelling and, in some cases, bone spurs forming along the edges of the joint. Bone spurs due to aging are especially common in the joints of the spine and feet.

Can you remove my bone spur?

Using the most minimally invasive techniques available, we can enter through a tiny 7 or 15 mm incision to shave the bone spurs off and free the nerve and rid you of your pain without causing any trauma to your body.

Common symptoms include:

• Back pain that comes and goes
• Spinal stiffness in the morning, such as after getting out of bed or after activity
• Pain, tenderness or numbness in the neck
• Lower back pain that runs down into the buttocks, thighs, or pelvic area
• Pain or tenderness in the shoulders, hips, knees or heels
• A crunching feeling or sound of bone rubbing on bone
• Weakness or numbness in legs or arms
• Limited range of motion, difficulty bending or walking
• Spinal deformity

Read our blog post Minimally Invasive Arthritis and Bone Spur Repair

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Bone spur facts are from WedMD (link)

Tags: Back Pain, bone spur, Medical Questions, medical terms, spine surgery