Bone spurs are tiny projections of your bones. While normally painless, occasionally they can put pressure on your nerves, causing pain. When this happens, you may need surgery or other treatment. Physical therapy is not considered a treatment for bone spurs, but it can help alleviate some of the pain associated with them.
Bone Spurs
Bone spurs are small projections that appear on the edges of your bones. Most often, they develop in joints, where two or more bones meet. Bone spurs are normally painless. However, they can occasionally come in contact with your nerves. Rubbing against nerves can cause pain and loss of motion in your joints. While most bone spurs are painless and require no treatment, if the spur is causing pain, surgery may be needed to remove the spur. The operation can generally be done in an open procedure in which your skin is cut open, or with an arthroscope, in which a small incision is made and a camera and small tools are inserted to remove the spur.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is not considered an effective treatment for bone spurs as exercise cannot reduce or eliminate a spur. It can help to strengthen the muscles around the affected area. This can reduce pain and make movement within the joint easier. However, it does not typically provide long-term relief.
Physical therapy is recommended if surgery is required to treat your bone spur. This will help heal your joint after surgery. Physical therapy will focus at first on regaining range of motion in the affected joint or area. Several weeks after surgery, you can begin strengthening exercises to rebuild your strength.
Prognosis
Medication can help reduce your pain level. If pain is consistent, surgery may be your only option. Your recovery time is based on the amount of work needed to repair your bone and if repairs for other conditions, such as osteoarthritis, are needed. Full recovery following surgery can take anywhere from one to six months. Most patients can gradually begin to resume activities after several weeks.
Considerations
Consult your doctor about the best treatment option. Always follow their instructions regarding your recovery and rehabilitation. If any complications arise such as increased pain or swelling, numbness or tingling of the arm or hand, or redness, warmth or tenderness, consult your doctor right away. If you do undergo physical therapy, make sure that it is supervised by a licensed physical therapy.
