A bone spur, or osteophyte, is the body's response to diminished stability within a joint. Most people develop osteophytes later in life, when cartilage wears down in the ankles, hips, shoulders, wrists, or the spine. While the name itself sounds somewhat intimidating - it conjures an image of a nasty, little spike digging into soft tissue - a bone spur actually is a smooth projection of bone mass, usually generated over a long period of time. In fact, most osteophytes are asymptomatic and remain undetected, especially those that occur within the spinal column. Only when the bony growth makes contact with a nerve root or the spinal cord will pain, tingling, numbness, or muscle weakness occur.

How Does a Bone Spur Develop on the Spine?

To understand how a bone spur might develop along the spine, it's important to first know the basics of spinal anatomy. The vertebrae are stacked along the center of the back from the base of the skull to the pelvic region. Between the vertebrae are paired sets of joints that provide flexibility and stability. The vertebrae also are separated and cushioned by sponge-like intervertebral discs. Years of wear and tear take a toll on the joints and discs, which can begin to degenerate as the body ages. This can be a result of a number of degenerative spine conditions, including osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease. In the presence of these conditions, the body attempts to preserve spinal stability by adding more bone to the adjacent vertebrae. The added bone tissue eventually forms into bone spurs.

Where Do Osteophytes Occur Most Frequently on the Spine?

The cervical (neck) and lumbar (lower back) regions of the spine are particularly susceptible to bone spur development. This is because the neck and lower back bear the weight of the head and upper body, respectively, and because both regions are subjected to a great deal of stress-inducing motion. Bone spurs can occur within the thoracic (middle back) region, but are far less common because of the relative rigidity of the attached ribcage.

Bone spurs making contact with nerve tissue in the neck region can produce symptoms in the upper back, shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers. Bone spurs in the lower back can produce symptoms in the lower extremities. These symptoms typically can be managed using conservative treatment methods such as pain medication, stretching, and exercise. The exact cause of chronic neck or back pain should always be diagnosed and treated by a doctor.

In Conclusion

Bone spurs are common in certain areas of the body such as the spine, hands, shoulders, knees, feet, and hips. Bone spurs are not painful, however, unless they irritate, press, or rub on other tissue such as nerves, tendons, ligaments, or other bones.

The aging process is a main factor in bone spur formation, but certain lifestyle factors can encourage the growth of bone spurs, too. For instance, wearing tight or ill-fitting shoes can cause a bone spur to form on the back of the heel, which is sometimes called a heel spur. Activities or situations that put extra pressure on the feet and other joints like running, dancing, or being overweight also can lead to bone spurs. Baseball players, swimmers, tennis players, wallpaper hangers, carpenters, and painters are susceptible to bone spurs in their shoulders due to overuse of the shoulder joints. In many cases, treatment of the bone spur may begin with avoiding the activities or situations that caused the bone spurs (for example, wearing more comfortable shoes, losing weight, or resting the joint involved in the bone spur's formation).