When a patient presents with back pain or reduced range of motion in a joint, the cause may be a bone spur. Bone spurs are overgrowths of bones, most commonly on the feet, hands, knees, or spine, which can press onto surrounding structures, including nerves, and cause pain. Centers for Neurosurgery, Spine & Orthopedics (CNSO) in New Jersey, provides both non-surgical and surgical treatments for back pain caused by a wide range of conditions, including bone spurs of the spine, for those suffering. Here, CNSO shares information about the typical journey for a patient with bone spurs, from diagnosis to recovery.
Bone Spurs Diagnosis
Bone spurs, also called osteophytes, can occur for a few reasons, including repetitive stress, trauma, or an underlying condition such as osteoarthritis (OA). Depending on the cause of the bone spurs, the symptoms the patient experiences can range from mild to severe. If bone spurs press on surrounding nerves, they pinch the nerve which causes severe pain, tingling, and even can cause weakness and an inability to move the extremity. Any size bone spurs can cause a reduced range of motion, achiness, and back pain.
A primary care physician (PCP) can do a basic work-up like taking a personal history, performing a physical exam, and checking reflexes and range of motion. They may also order imaging tests such as X-rays or MRIs to visualize the affected joint and see if any changes are to blame, like bone spurs. If a PCP discovers evidence of bone spurs, they will refer the patient to a specialist to confirm the diagnosis and order any further testing. At CNSO, the team of spine specialists examine and treat patients with bone spurs of the spine, often grouping this diagnosis with a related diagnosis of degenerative disc disease.
Treatments for Bone Spurs
Once the patient has received a diagnosis of bone spurs, the most suitable treatment needs to be determined. This will depend on the spur’s location, how many there are, and the severity of the symptoms. For a patient with symptomatic bone spurs, suffering from back pain, the treatment goals can either focus on decreasing or eliminating the symptoms or addressing the underlying cause of the spurs. They can also be broken down into non-surgical and surgical treatment methods.
Non-Surgical Treatment Options
Non-surgical, conservative treatments are generally the first-line treatment for back pain regardless of whether caused by bone spurs or other arthritic or traumatic conditions. They include:
- Medications: Patients can get pain and tension relief by using medications such as over-the-counter pain medicines, muscle relaxers, or nerve membrane stabilizers.
- Physical therapy: Patients can improve flexibility and reduce pain by working with a physical therapist for stretching and exercises.
- Steroid injections: Patients can experience less inflammation and pain if they receive steroids injected into the affected joint.
Although these conservative treatment options do not remove the arthritis or bone spurs, they help patients experience relief from symptoms by reducing the associated swelling. They should be used alone or in combination for maximum effectiveness.
Surgical Treatment Options
Patients with more severe cases of bone spurs who have not experienced relief from their back pain with conservative treatments may opt for surgical treatment. There are a few different types of spine surgeries for bone spur removal, and the surgeon’s recommendation will depend on the location of the bone spurs. For patients with spinal bone spurs that cause back pain, numbness, or loss of function, otherwise known as radiculopathy, the most common surgery is a laminectomy.
This spinal procedure, also known as spinal decompression, can remove bone spurs on the vertebral bones of the spine, caused by degeneration or osteoarthritis. The vertebrae of the spine have laminae which are bony arches. During a laminectomy, a small part of the lamina is removed to decrease pressure on the spinal cord and surrounding nerves. This procedure helps patients with spinal bone spurs experience pain relief from back pain.
Patients with bone spurs in other places that conservative treatments have not helped can benefit from a surgery called an osteophytectomy, or exostectomy, to remove a bony growth formed on normal bone.
The comprehensive team at CNSO includes neurosurgeons, orthopedic spine surgeons, interventional pain management physicians, physiatrists, rehabilitation specialists, and certified physical therapists, who work together to develop the most suitable treatment plan for each patient. CNSO takes a conservative approach to treating bone spurs and other conditions, first trying non-invasive measures like physical therapy and pain management before resorting to spine surgery.
Bone Spurs Recovery
The recovery for a patient with bone spurs will depend on what caused the spurs and the treatment that was prescribed. If a patient has a laminectomy to remove spinal bone spurs, the recovery time can span from two to six weeks, but the relief is long-lasting. If the patient uses medication or steroid injections to control their bone spur symptoms, their relief will be quicker but treatments will be ongoing.
Patients with Bone Spurs Can Trust CNSO
Patients with bone spurs of the spine who have back pain, should not wait to see a spine specialist. Trust the dedicated spine specialists at Centers for Neurosurgery, Spine & Orthopedics who are neurosurgeons and orthopedic spine surgeons, to provide coordinated and compassionate care for bone spurs and other spinal conditions. For more information about bone spurs treatment at CNSO, request an appointment today at one of several northern New Jersey locations.
