Bone Spurs

Bone spur is a general term used to describe a knobby, abnormal bone growth. Scientists believe bone spurs occur when the body tries to heal itself after a trauma by replacing bone. The growth is usually small and often undetected. If your mother ever told you to stop cracking your knuckles, she was helping you avoid bone spurs. The repetitive cracking of the knuckle joint is just what it takes to form a spur.

Other areas prone to bone spurs are the hips, knees, shoulders, neck and spine. Often bone spurs are found on the heel as a result of unusual stress to muscles and tissue there. On the heel, a bone spur can irritate nerves and tissue to make walking painful. Older adults are more prone to develop bone spurs, but spurs can occur in young athletes or dancers because of the added stress on their muscles, ligaments and tendons. Pain may occur while the bone spur is forming but can subside. In some cases, pain may persist and interfere with physical activity.

A bone spur can also signal the presence of arthritis. In osteoarthritis, cartilage (tissue covering the ends of bones that meet at the joint) breaks down from injury or excessive wear. As this breakdown occurs, bone spurs form around the joint edges, yielding a knobby appearance. As time goes on, more cartilage wears away, and the bones begin to rub against each other. This causes severe pain and limits movement at the joint.

What to Do

See your doctor if you discover an abnormal growth; if you experience pain associated with the growth or pain or weakness at a joint; or if you have difficulty walking because of pain at the knees or heel. Decide whether to treat the spur once your doctor diagnoses it. You may choose not to treat the spur if it is not painful and does not interfere with daily living. Consider surgery if the spur is creating serious physical problems, such as prohibiting walking, and the spur is not responding to other forms of treatment. Surgery to remove spurs is rare.

Self-care Steps for Bone Spurs

• Ask your doctor about rest, anti-inflammatory drugs or physical therapy if the spur is creating problems for you. These non-invasive treatments are usually effective in treating the bone spur.

• Take steps to delay the progression of arthritis if your doctor diagnoses that disease. You can do your part by maintaining a healthy weight and keeping your joints flexible with low-impact exercises like swimming.