Bone Spurs Explained: Causes, Symptoms, And Treatments

You might imagine something sharp, pointy, and probably painful when you think of a spur in any part of the body. But bone spurs are smooth lumps of bone that grow on other bones. Bone spurs usually appear as we grow older, and they take time to form (via Cedars Sinai). A bone spur seems like something you'll be able to feel or see. But foot and ankle surgeon Christopher Toth explains to Banner Health that this isn't always the case. Many bone spurs grow in line with the body and will not be visible. Indeed, Toth even states that "Everyone has bone spurs." They are a common finding in X-ray scans. But they are ignored if they don't cause any symptoms and, therefore, don't need to be worried about.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, bone spurs are mostly seen in adults older than 60 years, but they can be found in younger people as well. Bone spurs can be formed on any bone, typically close to a joint. However, most bone spurs are found on bones of the spine, shoulder, fingers and other parts of the hand, hip, knee, heel, big toe, ankle, and other parts of the foot. To reduce your chances of developing bone spurs, you should keep fit, maintain a healthy weight, eat a balanced diet, exercise carefully to avoid joint injuries, maintain a good standing and sitting posture, and avoid damaging shoes in favor of well-fitting, comfortable ones. Unfortunately, you can't totally control whether bone spurs will develop.

Bone spurs can be differentiated based on where they form on the bone. Bone spurs that form at the edges of where two bones meet at a joint are known as osteophytes (via Sports-Health). Another group of bone spurs are known as enthesophytes. They usually form at the site where tendons and ligaments attach to bones. Tendons connect muscles to bones, and ligaments connect two bones at a joint. Enthesophytes can also form where other connective tissues like fascia and joint capsules attach to bones.

Bone spurs can also be classified based on whether they are located outside or within the spine. Bone spurs outside the spine (also called extraspinal) can be found around different joints. They could grow into joints or on the outer margins of joints, according to a review published in the Journal of Orthopedic Surgery. The bone spurs within the spine — known as vertebral bone spurs — can be seen on its outer surface or inward, facing the spinal canal. They may also form around disks that cushion the bones of the spine, or around facet joints between these bones (via Miami Neuroscience Center).

A piece of bone sticking out where it shouldn't be seems like something that should hurt a lot. But that's not always the case. Many bone spurs are innocent, as they don't affect any nearby structures or cause any problems. The bone spurs that cause discomfort or pain irritate surrounding structures like soft tissues, nerves, or other bones. Over time the consistent irritation can lead to inflammation or cause the tissues to wear away and break down (via Integrity Spine & Orthopedics).

Painful bone spurs are often found in the spine, and they can cause discomfort for different reasons. If they grow into the spinal canal, they could narrow it out and compress the spinal cord. Bone spurs that form around the small openings (foramen) in the spine could compress nerves leaving the spinal cord through these holes. Because bone spurs formed in these locations could affect the spinal cord or nerves, they cause pain or tingling even in the arms or legs. Another place where spinal bone spurs could grow and cause pain is around joints of the spine, known as facet joints (via Deuk Spine Institute and Spine-Health).

Anyone can grow a bone spur. But if you have certain conditions, your chance of growing one increases. In most people, bone spurs develop as a result of joint damage from a type of arthritis known as osteoarthritis or from degenerative joint disease (via WebMD). Osteoarthritis and the related bone spurs usually affect older people. Osteoarthritis is caused by the wearing away and breaking down of the cartilage that covers and protects two bones where they meet at a joint. The bones begin to rub against each other, causing the joint to get inflamed, swell, and become painful. The body is stimulated to grow bone spurs because of the inflammation and added stress on the joint. It's how the body attempts to restore the joint to what it once was (via Integrity Spine & Orthopedics). 

Other conditions can damage the joints and cause bone spurs. A sports injury or an accident that affects your joints can cause your body to grow a bone spur as it tries to heal the injury. You may also have a higher risk of bone spurs if you have an autoimmune disease like psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or lupus (via Atlanta Spine).

If you are an athlete, you may frequently twist, turn, and manipulate different parts of your body to play your sport well. And bone spurs may form around joints you use a lot. For example, in a study published in Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, bone spurs were found to be more common in the knees of young, active athletes than non athletes between 18 and 36 years. Bone spurs can also form on the ankles of athletes who need to forcefully flex their ankles up or down — so those who participate in running, ballet, soccer, football, and volleyball are at particular risk. Some athletes don't develop any discomfort from having an ankle bone spur. But older athletes (above 25) might develop pain in their ankles as a result of bone spurs squeezing nearby soft tissues. This condition is known as ankle impingement or athlete's ankle (via SportsMD.com). Another place where athletes who participate in sports like baseball, tennis, and golf are likely to get bone spurs is on the shoulders, due to repeated stress on that point. Some people who have spurs in their shoulders experience pain, swelling, and numbness (via Healthline). 

There are some things you can do to relieve your symptoms outside the hospital. Applying an ice pack at intervals can get you some relief. You can also soak a cloth in apple cider vinegar and wrap it around the offending area. Since ginger is a good antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, you can try taking ginger regularly to get some relief (via Planet Ayurveda). How to Cure notes that some anti-inflammatory essential oils might be effective, particularly rosemary, lavender, helichrysum, cypress, thyme, wintergreen, frankincense, marjoram, a peppermint and eucalyptus blend, and a rosemary and flaxseed blend. These can be diluted by mixing a few drops with coconut oil and then applied topically — though it's advisable to try a small test patch before applying more broadly in case your skin reacts negatively. You can also consume fish oil, coconut oil, or baking soda in appropriate quantities for your bone spurs. Taking an Epsom salt bath or soaking the affected area in water containing baking soda might be effective (per Life Saving Health).

You should also try resting more, controlling your weight, and wearing shoes that fit properly, says the Cleveland Clinic. Arizona Foot Doctors advises that you take supplements or eat foods containing calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D, especially if you have osteoarthritis. Tomatoes and berries are rich in calcium, while beans and nuts are rich in magnesium, per How to Cure. They advise that you eat antioxidant-rich foods and avoid processed foods, salt, and unhealthy fats.