Get Rid of Bone Spurs Without Surgery

Did you know that the human body has a total number of 206 bones? Their main function is to assist the body to move and also protect the internal organs from collision damage. Without any hindrance to the bone tissue/surface, a human body will function effectively. A bone spur normally hinders joint movement and primarily causes pain. Bone spurs are not a death sentence but discomfort to be handled holistically.

In most cases, bone spurs are painless and even not uncomfortable. Treatment is called for when bone spurs start becoming painful and cause discomfort. Surgery is one of the treatments but as a final option. The good news is that there are numerous ways one can get bone spur treatment without any surgery.

What Bone Spurs are

The place where two bones meet is known as a joint. Bone spurs are small bony projections that develop along joint margins. They are pointed, sharp, and are an outgrowth of the bone. Often bone spurs are confused with Enthesophytes, which form at the tendon/ligament attachment. A ligament is a band of strong tissue that connects a bone to another bone, while a tendon concentrates on tough inelastic tissues that connect muscles to bones. The other name of bone spurs is osteophytes.

Bone Spurs occur in various parts of the body. These various body parts starting from the top include neck, shoulders, hands, spine, hips, knees, foot. Bone spurs osteophytes occurring on the toes/fingers are known as Heberden’s Nodes.

Causes of Osteophytes

The main cause of bone spurs is commonly associated with aging joints (a symptom known as Osteoarthritis), damaged joints, and a degenerative joint ailment. To further explain that, when a spur rubs against ligaments or tendons, the friction causes wear and tear effect. An injury occurs at the site where the wear and tear effect was occurring. Therefore, by nature, the body tries to repair the damage caused to the joint, ligament, or tendon by replacing the area with new bone tissue.

The spine, also known as the backbone, plays a key role in your body. It is the central support system of your whole being, located at the back of your body. The spine helps you sit, walk, stand, even twist. In the full description, it is a series of vertebrae, set apart by disks, that encloses and protects the spinal cord. Aging causes the protective cartilage layer of your joints and the bones of your spine to wear; damage is caused to the bones. The wearing is not notable; hence, people go about with their normal daily activities. But with time, the pain begins. Such a situation calls for treatment. Remember that bone spurs in the spine can also interfere with the nerves. This interference causes tingling sensations in the limbs or even numbness.

Bone spurs also develop on foot due to the intensity of the pressure applied to these bones. This development may likely cause a toe spur or a heel spur, which occurs under the heel.

Here are some other causes commonly caused by these bone spurs: –  in-born bone condition, poor diet, genetic condition, obesity, wearing ill-fitting shoes, having a broken bone, poor posture, over-excessive activities, for example, running or even dancing.

The seriousness of these bone spurs

Most cases involving bone spurs do not portray any visible signs or symptoms. Surprisingly you might even have no clue whatsoever of any underlying bone spur in your body system. That is why an X-ray machine is used to verify the presence of these spurs. Other imaging tests are carried out as a safety precaution too. However, in some cases, patients experience certain signs and symptoms, which now calls for medical treatment and various diagnoses. Here are some specific areas where the pinch of bone spurs are felt: –

Neck

• Numbness/tightness making it sore, turning from side to side.
• Experience breathing or swallowing difficulties.
• Headaches at the back and sides of the head due to the cervical root pressed by the spur.
• Shock-like pain along the nerve pathway of the shoulder leading to the hands.
• Spurs in the neck can cause numerous neurological problems.

Shoulders

• Bone-to-bone rubbing in the shoulders causes inflammation, making it appear red or feel warm.
• Pain when one engages in various activities.
• Immobility due to swelling and pain.
• Restless nights trying to find a good sleeping posture.

Hands and Wrists

• Fingers experience intense pain, numbness, tingling sensations, bony mass under the finger’s skin, weakness, and restricted movement.
• Wrists experience the exact ordeal the fingers have undergone.

Spine

Causes narrowing of the spine that presses nerve endings which become weak and causes numbness of the limbs.

Hip

The strongest bone in the human body is found in the hip. Bone spur present in the hip inhibits movement. The motion of the joint is highly dependent on the severity of the pain felt.

Knee

Extreme pain, which makes it difficult to move, stretch or bend.

Toe

Experiences swelling, pain, and tenderness. Locomotion becomes difficult.

Heel

• Experiences a warm feeling when touched.
• Some patients say on standing, they feel pins piercing at that point and, after that, dull pain.

Possible ways of removing bone spurs from the spine

The following are conservative ways of removing bone spurs from the spine aside from undergoing surgery:

Exercise and physical therapy

This therapy is a daily routine of exercising muscles by stretching and strengthening them under the guidance of a physical therapist. Slowly the pressure that was impairing the nerve endings in the spine will be released because of these exercises. This daily routine of exercising will support and increase the flexibility of the back and neck.

Medication

Most recommended bone spur treatment. It can be prescribed by a doctor and also be bought over-the-counter. Anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed to get rid of the pain in the spine. You can also opt for an epidural steroid injection. This injection has an effective inflammatory mode of action that curbs the pain and numbs the area affected. It is administered by being injected directly into the epidural space of the spine.

Popular recommended medical procedures.

Chiropractic care will alleviate the pain caused by bone spurs, relax the muscles and numb the pain. Chiropractic care is simply a healthcare profession that deals with the spine and other body joints, including the nervous system. A chiropractor carries it out. Before chiropractic services are rendered, a full spinal examination is done, incorporated with a spine X-ray. Afterward, a chiropractic adjustment follows. These adjustments involve the application of a safe, specific, controlled force to a joint to restore its normal proper functioning and effective movement. These chiropractors are trained, and they work hand in hand with healthcare providers daily. Clearly, chiropractic is safe, beneficial, and affordable.

One of the places offering these services is at Family Chiropractic Care in Longview, WA. We offer massage therapies, chiropractic care, and treatment, or whatever injuries one has sustained. Book your appointment anytime and get a spine adjustment like no other!

In conclusion, bone spurs can be self-medicated. Proper dieting and weight loss are an enhancement to any other treatment for bone spurs in the spine. Medication and nutrition are a sure treatment to sort out spurs. Surgery is only necessary when the pain is completely severe. So try as much to bank on the conservative ways of bone spur treatment.