Bone spurs (osteophytes) are bony projections that form along the edge of bones on the spine, heels, knees, shoulders, neck, fingers and other joints. According to the Mayo Clinic, bone spurs often cause no symptoms and are only detected upon X-ray. However, aging and other medical conditions (osteoarthritis) can cause bone spurs to develop and worsen, creating a number of lingering, bothersome symptoms.
Pain
Bone spurs may cause pain in the affected joint(s). Those with bone spurs in the upper spine (cervical spine) or neck region may find it painful to breathe or swallow if the spur turns inward, while those with a spur in the lower spine could have pain anywhere in the body as the spur pushes on the spinal cord and causes the nerves to transmit pain signals throughout the body. According to Spine-Health.com, those with a cervical spine bone spur commonly experience headaches, dull pain in the neck or back while standing or walking or radiating pain across the shoulders. Those with lower (lumbar) bone spur may experience pain radiating to the buttocks or thighs.
Loss of Motion
Bone spurs can get in the way of normal functioning of the joints, restricting motion as they rub against nearby nerves, bones and tendons. For example, according to the Mayo Clinic, those with bone spurs in the shoulder may experience restricted motion in their arm if it rubs against the rotator cuff (tendons that help to move the shoulder). Similarly, those with bone spurs on the knee may find it difficult and painful to extend and flex the knee joint as the spur rubs up against the tendons that control knee movement.
Joint Locking
According to the Mayo Clinic, bone spurs may sometimes break off of the larger bone to which they were attached. They then become loose bodies that float freely in the joint or embed themselves in the lining of the joint. When loose bodies drift in between the bones at a joint, they may lock up with the bones and prevent normal movement of the joint (joint locking). Joint locking may come and go as the loose bodies float in and out of the joint.
Nerve Compression Symptoms
As bone spurs (particularly those in the neck or back) worsen, they may start to put pressure on nearby nerves. According to Spine-Health.com, this nerve compression can cause a number of bothersome symptoms, including pain in one or both arms or legs, numbness or tingling and progressive weakness. In severe cases--particularly those involving arthritis and stenosis (a narrowing of the spine that puts extreme pressure on the spinal cord)--bowel and bladder dysfunction can occur.
