| Bone spur is a term used to describe a | | | | On your spine, bone spurs can push against |
| condition that characterizes the growth of an | | | | your nerves, or even your spinal cord, |
| extra bone on the normal bone. In medical | | | | causing pain and numbness elsewhere in your |
| terms, it is known as osteophytes. Bone spur | | | | body. |
| usually takes place on the joints of the | | | | |
| spine, feet, shoulders, hips, hands and | | | | On your neck, cervical bone spurs can |
| knees. It is not painful but sometimes causes | | | | protrude inward, occasionally making it |
| pain when it rubs against other bones around | | | | difficult to swallow or painful to breathe. |
| it. It is more common among people above 60 | | | | Bone spurs can also push against veins, |
| years of age. It is associated with spine | | | | restricting blood flow to your brain. |
| degeneration. | | | | |
| | | | In your shoulder, bone spurs can restrict the |
| Causes of Bone Spurs | | | | range of motion of your arm. Bone spurs can |
| | | | rub on your rotator cuff, a group of tendons |
| As osteoarthritis breaks down the cartilage | | | | that help control your shoulder movements. |
| in your joint, your body attempts to repair | | | | This can cause swelling (tendinitis) and |
| the loss. Often this means creating new areas | | | | tears in your rotator cuff. |
| of bone along the edges of your existing | | | | |
| bones. Your body may also create bone spurs | | | | On your neck, cervical bone spurs can |
| to add stability to aging joints. Bone spurs | | | | protrude inward, occasionally making it |
| are the hallmark of other diseases and | | | | difficult to swallow or painful to breathe. |
| conditions, including: | | | | Bone spurs can also push against veins, |
| | | | restricting blood flow to your brain. |
| Spondylosis. In this condition, | | | | |
| osteoarthritis and bone spurs cause | | | | Treatment of Bone Spurs |
| degeneration of the bones in your neck | | | | |
| (cervical spondylosis) or your lower back | | | | Treatment of the symptoms may include rest, |
| (lumbar spondylosis). | | | | ice, stretching, and no steroidal |
| | | | anti-inflammatory drugs (Naiads) such as |
| Spinal stenosis. Bone spurs can contribute to | | | | ibuprofen. If the bone spur is in the foot as |
| a narrowing of the bones that make up your | | | | in plantar fascistic, then esthetics, new |
| spine (spinal stenosis), putting pressure on | | | | footwear and extra padding in the show may |
| your spinal cord. | | | | help. If severe symptoms persist a physician |
| | | | may also suggest a corticosteroid injection |
| Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis | | | | reduce pain and inflammation of the soft |
| (DISH). This condition causes bony growths to | | | | tissues next to the bone spur. |
| form on the ligaments of your spine. | | | | |
| | | | Take an ice pack and apply it on the inflamed |
| Plantar fasciitis. A bone spur, sometimes | | | | bone spur area 4-5 times in a day. If the |
| called a heel spur, can form where the | | | | problem doesn't get cured, then apply heating |
| connective tissue (fascia) connects to your | | | | pads. |
| heel bone (calcaneus). The spur results from | | | | |
| chronic irritation or inflammation of the | | | | Stand with the balls of your feet on the edge |
| connective tissue, but the spur itself | | | | of a stair or curb and your heels over the |
| doesn't cause the pain associated with | | | | edge. Relax your calf muscles and let your |
| plantar fasciitis. | | | | heels drop down slightly, until you feel the |
| | | | stretch along the Achilles tendons on the |
| Signs and symptoms | | | | back of your heels. |
| | | | |