Spinal bone spurs (osteophytes) are bony projections that develop along the edges of spinal vertebrae or near the joints, often in response to wear and tear. While a spur may not cause symptoms, it becomes problematic when it impinges upon sensitive structures, such as spinal nerves or the spinal cord. Many people who experience associated pain and stiffness seek ways to eliminate these growths entirely.
Understanding Spinal Bone Spurs
A bone spur is an extra growth of bone tissue that forms on the edges of bones, often near joints. In the spine, these growths frequently appear on the vertebral bodies and around the facet joints. They represent the body’s attempt to stabilize an area that has become unstable due to degenerative changes.
The primary cause is spinal osteoarthritis (spondylosis), which involves the breakdown of cartilage between the joints. As disc height decreases and ligaments become slack, the body attempts to reinforce the joint by growing new bone. When osteophytes grow into the small openings where nerves exit the spine (the foramina), they can compress the nerve roots, leading to pain, tingling, or weakness.
Why Bone Spurs Cannot Be Dissolved
The answer to whether a bone spur can be dissolved is no, because osteophytes are composed of mature, calcified bone tissue. There is no fundamental difference between the bone tissue in a spur and the rest of the skeleton. Any substance strong enough to dissolve the spur would also damage the surrounding healthy bone structure. The body lacks a natural mechanism to resorb this established bony growth.
Natural remedies, dietary changes, or supplements are not effective in eliminating the spur itself. Claims about “dissolving” bone spurs often refer to reducing inflammation and swelling in surrounding soft tissues, which typically causes the pain. Treatment focuses on managing associated symptoms rather than removing the bony growth. A bone spur only becomes a medical concern when it causes symptoms by pressing on nerves or limiting movement.
Non-Invasive Management Strategies
Symptoms associated with spinal bone spurs can often be managed through a conservative, non-surgical approach. The goal of these strategies is to reduce inflammation, alleviate pain, and improve the functional stability of the spine.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is a cornerstone of non-invasive treatment, focusing on strengthening the muscles that support the spinal column. A therapist guides the patient through exercises designed to improve core strength and flexibility. This targeted strengthening helps stabilize the spine, reducing the mechanical stress that initially triggered the bone spur formation. Physical therapy can also incorporate techniques like massage, heat, and cold therapy to reduce local inflammation and muscle spasms.
Medication
Over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or naproxen, are commonly used to manage inflammation and pain caused by the spur’s irritation of surrounding soft tissues. If these medications do not provide sufficient relief, a physician may prescribe stronger options. These can include muscle relaxants to address spasms that frequently accompany spinal issues, or nerve membrane stabilizers to reduce the irritability of pinched nerves.
Lifestyle Modifications
Adjusting lifestyle factors can reduce the mechanical load on the spine, decreasing pain associated with bone spurs. Maintaining a healthy body weight is helpful, as excess weight places increased pressure on the spinal joints and nerves. Low-impact exercises (swimming, walking, or cycling) are recommended because they strengthen supporting musculature without placing undue strain on the vertebrae. Improving posture and utilizing supportive accessories, like specialized seating or shoe inserts, can also help reduce pressure on the affected areas.
Medical Interventions and Surgical Options
When non-invasive treatments fail to provide adequate symptom relief, or when nerve compression is severe, medical interventions and surgical options become necessary. These aggressive treatments focus on directly reducing inflammation at the site of nerve irritation or physically removing the source of the compression.
Injections
A common medical intervention involves spinal injections, which deliver potent anti-inflammatory agents directly to the problematic area. Epidural steroid injections (ESIs) use fluoroscopic guidance to administer corticosteroids and an anesthetic near the irritated spinal nerve root. The steroid reduces inflammation and swelling, providing temporary pain relief that allows a patient to engage more effectively in physical rehabilitation. Another option is nerve blocks or radiofrequency ablation, which uses heat to interrupt pain signals transmitted by the nerve, offering longer-lasting symptom management.
Surgical Intervention
Surgery is typically reserved as a last resort for individuals experiencing persistent, debilitating pain, muscle weakness, or loss of coordination due to severe nerve compression. The goal of surgical procedures is decompression, creating more space for the spinal cord and nerve roots. Procedures like a foraminotomy involve removing a small amount of bone to enlarge the foramen, relieving the pressure caused by the spur. A laminectomy is another decompression surgery where a portion of the lamina is removed to enlarge the spinal canal, often performed when bone spurs contribute to spinal stenosis. While the spur may be removed, the underlying instability that caused the spur must also be addressed to prevent recurrence.