Bone spurs are considered potentially painful and can occur for various reasons. They are also called as osteophytes which are bony projections that form on the bony edges. Take note that bone spurs are not symptomatic but can press on the ligaments, nerves and other bones, resulting to pain. The treatment for bone spurs usually depends on the underlying cause or condition.
Osteoarthritis
This is a degenerative joint disease which is a form of arthritis that involves limited range of motion and diminished smoothness in the joint but lacks inflammation of the joint. There are two kinds of bone spurs where one develops close to the joint affected by the condition and the other that occurs close to a calcified ligament or tendon. In most cases, removal of the first kind of bone spur can help provide relief from pain. As for the second type, it does not trigger any issues that require surgery.
Spondylosis
Even though osteoarthritis often develops in the joints, it can also develop in the spine. Spondylosis is a degenerative condition that affects the cervical, thoracic or lumbar regions of the spine. The aging process is the main cause of this condition but the rate in which the bones deteriorate is different for each individual. Once the vertebrae degenerates, the bone spurs can form close to the end plates in between the vertebrae. These bone spurs can disrupt the blood flow to the bones and press on the nerves, resulting to pain and weakness.
Plantar fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is a condition that affects the foot. This develops once the plantar fascia (ligament that travels through the base of the foot and connects the heel to the forefoot) is subjected to injury or stress due to excess pressure on the ligaments.
The plantar fascia can become swollen, resulting to heel stiffness and pain. The presence of a bone spur on the heel can occur as a result of chronic inflammation and irritation of the ligament on the heel bone. Take note that the pain caused by the bone spurs on the heel is not linked with plantar fasciitis. In some individuals who have heel spurs, they do not experience any pain at all.
Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH)
DISH is a condition that involves the calcification or bony hardening of the ligaments that connect to the spine. This condition can cause stiffness in the upper back as well as neck and lower back stiffness, difficulty swallowing, loss of range of motion and pain.
This condition can also be diffuse and spreads to other areas of the body such as the ankles, heels, hips, knees, hands and elbows. The bone spurs that form on the ligaments can compress the spinal nerves and even cause paralysis. In some cases, surgery might be required for severe bone spurs in the neck that affects swallowing or those that compress on the spinal cord.