Spinal bone spur causes usually are associated with the natural process of aging. Years of wear and tear take a toll on the ligaments, intervertebral discs, and spinal joints that promote flexibility and stability within the spine. Bone spurs, or osteophytes, are the body's response to diminished spinal stability and increased friction and pressure, all of which can be caused by the age-related degeneration of the spine's anatomical components.
Degenerative Spine Conditions and Risk Factors
Bone spur causes can be broken down into two main categories: degenerative spine conditions and behavioral/circumstantial causes. Degenerative spine conditions can be related to disease or the aging process. Behavioral/circumstantial causes are related to an individual's habits, such as posture, or outside forces that cause a change in the spinal anatomy.
Degenerative spine conditions include:
Osteoarthritis - natural wear and tear deteriorates the smooth cartilaginous layers that cushion joints where the vertebrae meet and articulate.
Degenerative disc disease - the intervertebral discs begin to lose their water content and elasticity during the natural aging process, reducing spinal flexibility and stability.
Spondylolisthesis - slippage of one vertebra over another can significantly reduce spinal stability.
Behavioral/circumstantial bone spur causes include:
Obesity - excess body weight places more stress on the joints of the spine.
Overused joints - repetitive lifting, bending, or twisting, as well as persistent poor posture, all place undue stress on the spine's joints.
Spinal injury - a fracture or compression injury can displace the vertebrae, thereby reducing stability.
Symptoms and Treatment
A bone spur rarely causes symptoms on its own. Only if the bony growths come into contact with the spinal cord or nerve roots will pain, tingling, numbness, or muscle weakness develop. Chronic neurological pain caused by nerve compression associated with a bone spur usually can be managed conservatively, using pain medication, physical therapy, exercise, and other non-surgical methods. A doctor might recommend exploring surgical options if chronic symptoms persist despite several weeks or months of conservative treatment.
In Conclusion
Research has shown that specific activities and situations can cause bone spurs in other joints, too. For example, athletes of all ages who are involved in baseball, swimming, and tennis are vulnerable to developing bone spurs in the shoulder. Shoulder bone spurs also are common in people who hold certain occupations such as painters, paper-hangers, carpenters, and others in the construction industry.
Bone spurs on the back of the heel - also known as heel spurs - seem to be at least partially caused by lifestyle factors, as well. Wearing shoes that don't fit correctly or are too tight is a prime way to get heel spurs. Excessive dancing or running seems to be a factor in heel spur formation, as well.
In addition to the spine, shoulders, and heels, other common areas for bone spurs include the hands, hips, and knees. Thankfully, bone spurs are not as sharp and painful as they sound. They're actually just smooth overgrowths of bone that do not cause any pain at all unless they rub, irritate, inflame, or impinge on soft tissue such as nerves, tendons, and/or ligaments.
