Osteophytes or Bone Spurs are bony spurs that develop from the joints where two bones connect, or may occur in the spine. They are most common in people aged 60 and over, but adults can also develop bone spurs. If you have osteoarthritis, you may be more likely to develop bone spurs.
Usually, bone spurs do not cause any symptoms, so they may not be noticed even if they have been present for a long time. If this condition does not affect your health, most may not require treatment. However, in some cases, the new bone spurs may rub against other bones or press on nerves, causing the patient to feel pain, numbness, or tingling. You should see a doctor for treatment.
Bone spurs
Bone spurs usually cause no symptoms, but patients may notice them when they press on nerves, tendons, or other structures in the body, or they may notice them on other diagnostic tests such as X-rays.
Symptoms of the patient will vary depending on the area where the bone spur occurs, such as:
- Bone spurs in the shoulder area can affect the shoulder tendons, causing pain or swelling.
- Bone spurs in the knee may cause pain or tenderness when the patient straightens or bends the leg.
- Bone spurs in the spine can narrow the spaces between the spine. In some cases, they can press on the spinal cord or nerves, causing pain, numbness, or weakness in the back, arms, and legs. Some people may have trouble controlling their bowel and urination.
- A bone spur in the hip area may cause pain or discomfort when moving the hip, or difficulty moving the hip.
- Bone spurs on the hands and fingers may cause bony bulges under the skin along the joints.
However, the patient’s symptoms will worsen when exercising or trying to move the joints in the area with the bone spur. However, if the patient has pain or swelling in one or more joints, or has more difficulty moving the joints than usual, they should see a doctor for diagnosis and further treatment.
Causes of bone spurs
Bone spurs occur when a joint or tendon becomes damaged, and the body tries to repair the damage by growing new bone near the degenerated area. The most common cause is damage to the joint from osteoarthritis, a disease that causes the joint tissue, bone, or cartilage that surrounds the ends of bones to degenerate.
The most important risk factor is age, as bone spurs are more common in older adults, but can occur at other ages, especially if the following factors are present:
- Injured from playing sports or having an accident
- Overuse of joints, such as running or dancing for long periods of time
- Being overweight
- Degenerative joint disease caused by other conditions, such as gout, rheumatoid arthritis, or lupus.
- Have congenital bone abnormalities, such as scoliosis.
- Spinal Stenosis
- Genetically Inherited
Diagnosis of osteophytes
Patients may notice or feel a lump under the skin, or it may be detected during a diagnostic test for another disease. In general, the doctor will ask about the patient’s symptoms, medical history, and perform a basic physical examination. The doctor may ask the patient to move the area where the bone spur occurs to check the joint’s ability to move, which may be abnormal. In some cases, the patient may be referred to an orthopedic specialist to diagnose the actual cause.
In addition, other methods of diagnosis may be used as follows:
- The use of diagnostic imaging, such as X-rays, CT scans, or MRI scans, to help doctors diagnose symptoms from clearer images of internal organs or structures.
- Electroencephalography, which measures the speed of nerve impulses, can help diagnose nerve damage caused by a pinched nerve in the spinal canal.
Bone spur treatment
Treatment methods vary depending on the symptoms and location of the bone spur. If symptoms are mild, with only minor swelling or pain, patients may take over-the-counter pain relievers, as recommended by their pharmacist, to relieve symptoms, such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or acetaminophen.
In addition, other methods may be used to help reduce any discomfort or pain that may occur, such as:
- Keep your weight within the appropriate range because if your weight exceeds the normal range, it can easily affect your joints.
- Stand or sit in proper posture, straighten your back to keep your spine in a normal position.
- Wear shoes with supportive materials that help reduce friction and impact on your feet and joints while walking.
- Physical therapy to strengthen the muscles around the joints
In some cases, medical treatment may be required using the following methods:
- Steroid injections under the supervision of a doctor to temporarily reduce swelling and inflammation.
- Surgery is used in cases where bone spurs compress nerves or obstruct body movement. The doctor may perform surgery to insert a device to prevent bone spurs from compressing nerves. If bone spurs occur in the shoulder or knee, they may be treated with arthroscopic surgery using special instruments, which will result in smaller postoperative wounds than with conventional surgery.
Complications of bone spurs
Although bone spurs may not cause any symptoms at first, some people may feel uncomfortable or feel pain when moving or moving the organ where the bone spur has formed, which may affect their daily activities. In some cases, bone spurs may cause bone fragments to become loose inside the knee joint (Loose Body), making it difficult to move the joint because the loose bone obstructs joint movement. In addition, if the bone spur presses on a nerve, it may cause serious complications.
Prevention of bone spurs
Although there is no absolute way to prevent osteophytes, especially if the bone spurs are caused by joint degeneration, there are some ways to reduce your risk of developing the disease, such as:
- Eat healthy foods, especially foods high in calciumand vitamin D, which will help prevent bone deterioration.
- Wear shoes that fit your feet, with enough space in the front for your toes and material that supports the arch of your feet. You should also wear shoes that fit properly or wear thick socks to help reduce friction while walking.
- Do weight-bearing exercises regularly, such as walking, jogging, or taking the stairs, to strengthen your bones and improve your muscles and circulatory system.
- Keep your weight within a suitable range to prevent your bones and joints from bearing excessive weight, which could cause damage.
- If the patient has a history of arthritis or has pain, swelling, or stiffness in the joints, they should consult their doctor about ways to prevent bone spurs.
