The spinal cord is a thick, ropy mass of nerve cells that extends down from the brain through a central canal in the vertebral column. Nerve impulses travel from the brain through the spinal cord to reach the organs, muscles and blood vessels throughout the body. When bone spurs protrude into the spinal cord, symptoms that include muscle weakness, pain, numbness and organ dysfunction can result. Several factors can influence the formation of bone spurs.
Normal Wear and Tear
Cartilaginous slabs known as intervertebral discs separate the bones of the vertebral column. With age and use, these discs can erode and degenerate, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. As this occurs, the spaces between the vertebrae shorten, and the vertebral bones themselves can begin to erode. The body attempts to repair this erosion by creating more bone tissue, and bone spurs can form.
Trauma
Just as normal wear and tear can damage the vertebrae, so can trauma due to accidents, sports injuries or physical altercations. Injuries that affect the discs and vertebrae may result in the formation of spurs that protrude into the spinal canal.
Dr. John H. Schneider, a neurosurgeon who writes for the website Spine-Health, states that bone spurs cause problems such as neck, back and leg pain in 42 percent of the population. Schneider adds that age and poor posture combined with injury provide a scenario where cumulative spinal column damage makes the formation of bone spurs a likely result. This occurs when a compensatory attempt to address the damage by thickening the ligaments around a vertebral joint results in the formation of calcifications. As these calcifications grow, they form bone spurs, or osteophytes.
Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis
Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis is a condition characterized by the formation of calcium deposits in the ligaments of the spinal column. It often causes no symptoms, but some patients complain of stiffness of the neck or back. The presence of these calcifications can limit mobility and necessitate a course of physical therapy as treatment.
As indicated by the word "idiopathic," the origins of this condition remain unclear, but it has been determined that certain factors increase an individual's risk of experiencing the disease. According to MayoClinic.com these include the use of certain prescription drugs that resemble vitamin A, being of the male gender, being older than 50, and having pre-existing conditions such as Type 2 diabetes or obesity.
