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