A bone spur, or osteophyte, is an extra piece of bone that grows on top of an existing bone. It is usually the result of the body trying to heal an injury. Bone spurs are smooth structures, but they can rub against or compress surrounding muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments and soft tissues, and cause pain or damage. Bone spurs can develop anywhere in the body including the shoulder. The first step is to become familiar with the causes of bone spurs on the shoulder so the correct treatment plan can be formed.
Age
With age and normal wear and tear on the body, the joints go through a degenerative process, states the Duke University Health System website. Throughout life, bone is renewed through a two-part process of resorption and formation whereby old bone tissue is broken down and removed, and new bone tissue is laid down to replace the old. Sometimes as new bone is formed, a bone spur develops. Bone spurs can develop even in cases where there is no known disease. Due to the complexity of the shoulder joint, a bone spur located in the shoulder is more likely to be painful due to the number of muscles nerves, tendons and ligaments that help the shoulder move.
Arthritis
Bone spurs can also form if the shoulder joint develops osteoarthritis. With osteoarthritis, the cartilage that is found between the bones of the shoulder joint begins to wear away. As this occurs bone rubs on bone. The Mayo Clinic claims that this friction causes damage to the bone, and as the body attempts to restore the bone, spurs can form. In addition, the body may grow bone spurs to help stabilize the joint if arthritis has weakened it. In this case, if the spur does not cause symptoms, it may actually be beneficial.
Injuries
According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, individuals who participate in sports, hobbies, or jobs that require a lot of overhead lifting or shoulder movement, can develop overuse injuries that may contribute to the development of a bone spur. The initial injury may cause swelling and damage to the joint and a bone spur may form during the healing process. A direct blow to the shoulder, or a fall onto an outstretched arm, can also cause this to happen. A bone spur in the shoulder can cause pain, numbness and limited range of motion.
