Osteophyte Pain

A bone spur (osteophyte) is a bony growth formed on normal bone. Common places for bone spurs include the spine, shoulders, hands, hips, knees, and feet. It can cause pain and loss of motion in your joints.

Osteophytes form naturally on the back of the spine as a person ages and are a sign of degeneration in the spine. In this case, the spurs are not the source of back pains, but instead are the common symptom of a deeper problem. However, bone spurs on the spine can impinge on nerves that leave the spine for other parts of the body. This impingement can cause pain in both upper and lower limbs and a numbness or tingling sensations in the hands and feet because the nerves are supplying sensation to their dermatomes.

Bone spurs also form in the feet in response to tight ligaments, to activities such as dancing and running that put stress on the feet, and to pressure from being overweight or from poorly fitting shoes. Bone spurs can break off from the larger bone, becoming what doctors call loose bodies. Often bone spurs that have become loose bodies will float in your joint or become embedded in the lining of the joint

Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) or naproxen (Aleve, others) are prescribed. Bone spurs that limit your range of motion or press on nerves may require surgical removal.