Out-of-state? Free MRI review + telehealth consult before you travel4.9 ★ · 619 Google reviewsBoard-certified — American Board of Orthopaedic SurgeryMinimally invasive, same-day spine surgery in Beverly HillsCall (424) 217-7463
Out-of-state? Free MRI review + telehealth consult before you travel4.9 ★ · 619 Google reviewsBoard-certified — American Board of Orthopaedic SurgeryMinimally invasive, same-day spine surgery in Beverly HillsCall (424) 217-7463
Bone spurs are the spine's response to years of wear — harmless until they crowd a nerve, at which point the fix is to remove the overgrowth, not the whole joint.
Osteophytes: Small Bony Growths at the Edges of Bones
Bone spurs, or osteophytes, are small projections of extra bone that form along the edges of vertebrae and spinal joints. They are not a disease in themselves but the body's attempt to stabilize a spine that has lost some of its cushioning with age. Many people carry bone spurs for years and never feel them.
Trouble begins when a spur grows into a space it shouldn't — narrowing the canal where the spinal cord runs or the small opening a nerve root travels through. At that point the same spur that was silent starts to press on nerve tissue, producing pain, numbness, or weakness that follows the affected nerve rather than staying in the back or neck.
Bone spurs, also known as osteophytes, are small bony growths that develop along the edges of bones. They often form as part of the body’s natural response to joint stress or degeneration. Bone spurs become more common as we get older, affecting as many as 80% of men and 60% of women over the age of 50.
What Bone Spurs Feel Like—and Why They Don’t Always Go Away on Their Own
✓Aching pain in the neck or lower back that builds over time
✓Numbness or tingling radiating into an arm or leg
✓Weakness in a limb when a nerve is compressed
✓Stiffness and reduced range of motion
✓Symptoms that worsen with activity and ease with rest
✓Occasional headaches when spurs form in the neck
Many people develop bone spurs gradually over time, and it’s common to have them without realizing it because they don’t always cause symptoms.
When bone spurs along the spine push against nearby nerves, they can also cause radiating pain that travels into the arms, legs, or shoulders, depending on the location of the spur.
Bone spurs themselves are made of bone tissue, which means that they’re structural changes in the body rather than temporary inflammation. Once the body forms this extra bone, it typically remains in place. In many cases, a bone spur may stay the same size for years without causing symptoms. However, since they don’t dissolve naturally, symptoms may appear if nerves are affected.
Common Causes and Locations of Bone Spurs
Age-related degeneration of discs and joints
Osteoarthritis of the spine
Long-term wear from repetitive strain or heavy work
Loss of disc height that stresses the vertebral edges
Prior spinal injury that accelerates local wear
Bone spurs tend to form when the body attempts to stabilize an area experiencing long-term stress or damage. Other causes include:
Poor posture or spinal misalignment
Bone spurs can appear in several areas of the body, including:
The cervical spine (neck)
The lumbar spine (lower back)
Shoulders and hips
Knees and ankles
The heel or foot
Osteoarthritis, in particular, contributes to chronic pain in as many as 1 in 5 Americans.
How Bone Spurs Are Diagnosed in Beverly Hills
Dr. Melamed begins by matching your symptoms to the nerve or level they seem to come from, then confirms with imaging. X-rays show the spurs themselves, while an MRI or CT reveals whether a spur is genuinely pressing on the spinal cord or a nerve root. This distinction matters — plenty of spurs look dramatic on film yet cause no trouble, so treatment is guided by what is compressing tissue, not by the picture alone.
Diagnosing bone spurs begins with a thorough evaluation to determine what may be causing your pain or mobility issues. Your doctor will ask about your symptoms, medical history, daily activities, and when the discomfort first began.
A physical exam may be performed to assess joint movement, flexibility, and areas of tenderness. Specialized tests, such as electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies, can also help determine which nerves are affected and to what extent.
If a bone spur is suspected, imaging tests can be used to confirm the diagnosis and pinpoint the exact location. Common imaging tools include:
X-rays, which can show bone growths along joints or the spine
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to help identify nerve compression and soft tissue changes
Computerized tomography (CT) scans to provide detailed views of spinal structures
These tests help determine whether a bone spur is affecting surrounding tissues or nerves, allowing specialists to recommend the most appropriate treatment plan.
Non-Surgical Bone Spur Treatment Options
When bone spurs are irritating a nerve, the first phase is almost always non-surgical. Physical therapy, anti-inflammatory measures, activity adjustments, and at times an image-guided injection can settle the inflammation and give the nerve room to calm down. Dr. Melamed gives that approach an honest trial before any procedure is discussed.
Most people with bone spurs can find relief without surgery. Treatment often focuses on reducing inflammation and improving joint function rather than removing the spur itself. Many people experience noticeable improvement using a combination of conservative therapies. Common non-surgical options include:
Anti-inflammatory medications to ease pain and swelling
Physical therapy to strengthen muscles and improve flexibility
Activity modification to reduce stress on affected joints
Bracing or support devices to stabilize movement
Corticosteroid injections to calm inflammation around irritated nerves
Additional therapies that may also support healing and long-term relief include:
Ice and topical anti-inflammatory gels
Gentle exercise programs like stretching or low-impact movement
Regenerative treatments, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP), which are becoming more widely used to promote natural healing
Dr. Melamed emphasizes non-invasive solutions whenever possible, incorporating treatments like acupuncture, yoga, Pilates, and Tai Chi alongside options such as epidural corticosteroid injections. This approach is designed to manage pain naturally while improving strength, flexibility, and overall spine health, and often prevents the need for more aggressive or risky treatments.
If pain, numbness, or weakness persists, the goal is simply to remove the piece of bone that is crowding the nerve — nothing more. Rather than an open operation, Dr. Melamed typically uses biportal endoscopic decompression: two incisions under a centimeter, a high-definition endoscope, and no muscle cutting. The offending spur is shaved away, the nerve is freed, your own joint and motion are preserved, and most patients go home the same day.
Although many people will find relief through conservative care options, surgery may be recommended if ongoing symptoms interfere significantly with daily life. For example, when a spur is pressing on a nerve or severely limiting movement. Surgery may be considered if you experience:
Persistent pain or discomfort that doesn’t improve with conservative care
Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the arms or legs
Difficulty walking, standing, or performing daily tasks
Symptoms that continue to get worse over time
Today, most procedures for bone spurs are minimally invasive. This means that they’re performed through small incisions with less disruption to surrounding tissue. Techniques such as microlaminectomy or microdecompression can remove or smooth the bone spur to relieve pressure on nerves. Compared to traditional open surgery, minimally invasive procedures typically offer faster recovery, less scarring, and a lower risk of complications, helping people return to normalcy more quickly.
No. Most bone spurs are found by accident and never cause a problem. They only warrant treatment when they are pressing on a nerve or the spinal cord and producing symptoms. If a spur is silent, Dr. Melamed's advice is usually to leave it alone.
Can bone spurs be dissolved without surgery?
There is no medication or therapy that removes a bone spur once it has formed. What non-surgical care does is reduce the inflammation and pressure around it so the nerve settles. When a spur is truly compressing a nerve, the only way to remove the bone is a procedure — and that can be done through a small, muscle-sparing endoscopic approach.
Will removing a spur weaken my spine?
A targeted endoscopic decompression removes only the small piece of bone crowding the nerve and spares the surrounding muscle and joint, so it does not destabilize the spine. This is very different from a large open operation, and it is why most patients recover quickly.
