A bone spur in the back can cause a number of symptoms, including pain, weakness, numbness and tingling. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms in the back, ribs, torso, hips, buttocks or legs, any number of spinal conditions could be causing your discomfort. Make an appointment with your doctor or spine specialist to discuss your symptoms and to find out if a bone spur is the cause of your back pain. To learn more about this condition and the diagnostic process, read the following article.

What is a bone spur?

A bone spur, also called an osteophyte, is a smooth enlargement of the body’s natural bone structure. The body creates a bone spur in the back as a response to pressure that is being placed on the spine, bone-on-bone contact or a loss of bone density, either because of the natural aging process or any number of spinal conditions like degenerative disc disease or facet disease. The presence of a bone spur will not cause you to experience any discomfort; it is only when the bone spur comes into contact with the spinal cord or nerve root that symptoms appear.

Diagnosing a bone spur

A doctor or spine specialist likely will perform several steps as a means of diagnosing your spinal condition. These may include:

• Asking a series of questions pertaining to your symptoms, family history and overall level of health
• Examining your spine to determine which region is affected
• Ordering diagnostic testing, such as an MRI, CT scan or X-ray, to detect the presence of a bone spur in your back

Bone spur treatment options

If your doctor or spine specialist diagnoses you with a spinal bone spur, he or she will work with you to develop a conservative treatment plan that may include over-the-counter pain medication, chiropractic care and physical therapy. If these treatments fail to provide relief after several weeks or months, contact USA Spine Care to learn about our minimally invasive procedures which are safer and effective alternatives to traditional open spine surgery.^

To treat bone spurs, our board-certified+ surgeons use small incisions that do not unnecessarily disrupt the muscles or ligaments surrounding the spine to perform a minimally invasive decompression or stabilization procedure, thereby providing the patient with lasting relief from their pain and discomfort. Reach out to the dedicated team at USA Spine Care today and ask for a free MRI review* to find out if you are a potential candidate for our bone spur procedures.