Bone Spurs in the Spine

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Bone Spurs in the Spine

Also known as osteophytes, bone spurs in the spine are protective structures that form when one bone rubs against another. If they grow too large, they can impinge upon nearby nerve roots or the spinal cord itself, resulting in symptoms like pain, tingling, muscle spasms, numbness, muscle weakness, and more.

Bone spurs are classified by their location in the spine and the part of the bone on which they occur. They can be:

Cervical - The cervical portion of the spine includes vertebrae C1-C7, and includes the upper back and neck.
Thoracic - This area includes vertebrae T1-T12 and is also referred to as the mid-back.
Lumbar - The lower back or lumbar region includes vertebrae L1-L5 and is a common site for many spine issues.
Anterior - An anterior bone spur is located on the front of a vertebra.
Posterior - Posterior bone spurs on vertebrae are located on the backside of the bone.

Treatment for Bone Spurs in the Spine

Conservative treatment options for bone spurs include:

Epidural steroid injections
Physical therapy
Heat and ice therapy
Over the counter pain medication
Strength exercises
Rest

Surgery for Bone Spurs in the Spine

For the majority of people, these conservative treatments are enough to alleviate symptoms. But, a small group of sufferers finds that these are simply not enough to provide relief and these patients suffer a decreased quality of life. For this minority, endoscopic spine surgery can provide a successful treatment that comes without many of the disadvantages of open back and neck procedures. For example, minimally invasive procedures require only a small incision of a few centimeters long, and it can be performed under local anesthesia with IV sedation, whereas open back or neck surgery requires a long incision and must be performed under general anesthesia. Open procedures also require a lengthy hospital stay and are followed by a months-long recovery period, as opposed to endoscopic procedures, which are performed on an outpatient basis and allow most patients to return to normal activity within just weeks.

If you’d like to learn more about minimally invasive procedures as they relate to bone spurs in the spine, or request a complimentary review of your MRI or CT scan by a Laser Spine Institute doctor, contact us.

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