Bone Spurs in the Spine
In the medical world, bone spurs are also known as osteophytes. A bone spur is a bony growth that develops most often where two or more bones meet. As these spurs develop and enlarge they can intrude on tissues and other surrounding structures. This can lead to mild, moderate, or intense pain in the impacted areas. Bone spurs can develop on any bone in the body. The unique nature of the spine makes this a particularly bad place for the development of spurs as the spinal canal houses the spinal cord and the nerves. As the spurs grow they can begin to cause impingement (compression) of the spinal cord or nerves which can cause pain, weakness, and functional difficulties.
Spinal Bone Spur Treatment Options
Bone spurs are a common and natural occurrence in the body. As a result, treating bone spurs is sometimes not necessary. Spurs can be so minor that you don’t even notice they are there. Under certain circumstances, however, bone spurs can lead to pinched spinal nerves, which are oftentimes extremely painful. If bone spurs are causing debilitating pain, it’s time to think about treatment options.
Treatment can be surgical or non-surgical. Non-surgical treatments can include physical therapy; injections to reduce the pain; pain medications such as muscle relaxers. These non-surgical options may relieve pain initially, but the pain may return and surgery may be the best course of treatment.
Bone Spur Spine Surgery in Minnesota
If you are suffering from symptoms related to bone spurs, complete the ‘Request an Appointment’ section on this page, or contact Midwest Spine & Brain Institute at 1.800.353.7720 to schedule an evaluation of your neck and/or back pain with one of our Minnesota spine surgeons. Our team consists of board-certified spine surgeons, pain management specialists, physician assistants, and more. We have locations throughout the Twin Cities metro area and treat patients throughout Minnesota.