Do bone spurs always cause pain?
No. Many people have spurs (osteophytes) with no symptoms. They only cause pain if they pinch a nerve or the spinal cord.
Condition/Condition Details
Spinal Bone Spurs
Care for osteophytes - bony growths along the vertebrae from joint degeneration - that can narrow nerve passages and cause pain, stiffness, or numbness.
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What are Spinal Bone Spurs?
While many bone spurs are harmless, they can cause significant pain if they narrow the spinal canal or pinch nearby nerves. At Mountain Spine & Orthopedics, we use high-resolution imaging to assess their impact and guide treatment.
Symptomatic Bone Spurs
When bone spurs compress nerves, symptoms may include:
- Localized back or neck pain
- Spinal stiffness and reduced range of motion
- Radiating pain, numbness, or weakness in the limbs
- Issues with balance or walking (in severe cases)
- Pain that worsens with certain activities
Causes of Bone Spurs
The primary cause is the body's response to joint wear from osteoarthritis and disc degeneration. Previous injuries and repetitive stress also increase the risk.
Do bone spurs need to be removed?
Not usually - and this surprises many patients. A spur is the skeleton's response to years of load on an arthritic joint, and spurs seen on X-rays are common in adults with no symptoms at all. A spur earns treatment only when it is compressing something: narrowing a nerve's exit - producing foraminal stenosis - crowding the spinal canal, or stiffening a joint enough to limit function.
That is why treatment targets consequences rather than the spur itself: calming the arthritic inflammation that built the spur, relieving the specific nerve it presses on with targeted injections, and reserving surgical removal for spurs with a proven, symptomatic point of compression. Removing an incidental spur from an image, without symptoms that match it, treats the X-ray rather than the patient.
Non-Surgical Bone Spur Management for Spinal Bone Spurs
We prioritize relieving the pressure and inflammation caused by spurs.
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Rehabilitation for posture and stabilization
- Image-guided spinal injections
- Activity modification
- Ergonomic postural training
Minimally Invasive Decompression for Spinal Bone Spurs
If symptoms persist, our surgeons can minimally invasively remove the bone spur to decompress the affected nerve root.
Learn More About Endoscopic Foraminotomy SurgeryExplore Spine Conditions & Treatments
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Locations Offering Evaluation
Our board-certified specialists offer spinal bone spurs evaluation and treatment at locations across Florida, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Georgia. Schedule a consultation at a clinic near you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can bone spurs be dissolved?
No. Bone spurs are hard bone. They cannot be dissolved by supplements or diet. They must be physically removed if they cause issues.
How are spinal bone spurs removed?
They are removed via Decompression Surgery (Laminectomy or Foraminotomy), where the surgeon carefully burrs away the excess bone pressing on nerves.
What causes bone spurs to grow?
They are the body's response to friction and instability. As discs wear out, the body grows extra bone to try and stabilize the joint.
Can bone spurs grow back after surgery?
It is possible over many years if instability remains, but they typically grow very slowly. Fusion surgery prevents regrowth by stopping motion.
