Bone Spurs

What are Bone Spurs?

Bone spurs, also known as osteophytes are bony growths that form along the edges of bones.  Bone spurs can develop on any bone and without signs or symptoms and may go undetected for years.  Some bone spurs form in places where they rub against other bones or push against nerves, causing swelling, pain, tearing and loss of motion in your joints.  Common places for bone spurs include the spine, shoulders, hands, hips, knees, and feet.

What Causes Bone Spurs?

Bone spurs are often associated with osteoarthritis.  As osteoarthritis breaks down the cartilage in joints, your body attempts to repair the loss creating new build up of bone along the edges of your existing bones.  This generally occurs in response to pressure, rubbing, or stress that continues over a long period of time.

Bone spurs (osteophytes) also occur due to other diseases and conditions such as:

• Plantar fasciitis:  A bone spur, sometimes called a heel spur, can form where the connective tissue (fascia) connects to your heel bone (calcaneus).  The spur results from chronic irritation or inflammation of the connective tissue, but it doesn't cause the pain associated with plantar fasciitis.


• Spondylosis:  In this condition, osteoarthritis and bone spurs cause degeneration of the bones in your neck (cervical spondylosis) or your lower back (lumbar spondylosis).


• Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH):  This condition causes bony growths to form on the ligaments of your spine.


• Spinal stenosis:  Bone spurs can contribute to a narrowing of the bones that make up your spine (spinal stenosis), putting pressure on your spinal cord.

Bone spurs can also be a part of the aging process, many older individuals without any diseases may still have bone spurs without being aware as the body creates bone spurs to add to the stability of aging joints.  Often you don't even realize you have bone spurs until an X-ray for another condition reveals the growths.

Diagnosing Bone Spurs

Many times bone spurs do not have any symptoms, therefore bone spurs will most often be found when being examined for another condition such as arthritis.  If you do suffer from joint pain and your physician believes it may be bone spurs you will then be given an x-ray, CT or MRI exam to confirm the diagnosis.    

Bone Spur Treatment

If bone spurs are causing pain or discomfort then possible treatments may be directed at the causes, symptoms or the bone spurs themselves.

Treatment for the causes of bone spurs may include physical therapy, stretching, deep tissue massage and weight loss programs attempting to reduce the stress on the joints involved.

Treatment of the symptoms may include rest, ice, stretching, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen.  If the bone spur is in the foot as in plantar fasciitis, then orthotics, new footwear and extra padding in the show may help. If severe symptoms persist a physician may also suggest a corticosteroid injection reduce pain and inflammation of the soft tissues next to the bone spur.

If treatment to the causes and symptoms of bone spurs are not successful and bone spurs begin to limit your range of motion or become extremely painful you may require surgery.

Natural Bone Spur Treatment and Prevention

Bone spurs are directly associated with osteoarthritis, the break down of the cartilage in joints. Osteoarthritis can be linked to calcium and mineral deficiency, and osteoarthritis can be treated and prevented with a high calcium and mineral diet.  So it only makes sense that bone spurs can also be treated with a high calcium and mineral diet.

Because it is very difficult to obtain the recommended daily intake of calcium and other important minerals the next best solution is supplementation. AlgaeCal Plus is a supplement with a whole complex of minerals which interact with one another to keep a healthy balance and prevent and treat bone spurs.  Below are a few AlgaeCal customers that had great success with treating bone spurs and joint pain.

Paulette

Joint Pain I used to wake up in the middle of the night from a sound sleep in tremendous pain from my hands. The joint pain was unreal. I had been taking calcium supplements without any relief. I then switched over to AlgaeCal™ and in seven days I started to notice a change. My hands no longer pain me and I have greater flexibility and better yet I don't wake up at night in tears from the pain!!! Thank You AlgaeCal

AlgaeCal is the world’s only plant source of calcium, so it is bio-available pre-digested minerals.  It also includes magnesium, trace minerals, vitamin D3 and vitamin k2 at full dosages.  To learn more about this natural bone spur treatment, click here

Latest News on the Bone Spurs

National Post Diener undergoes surgery for bone spurs NBA.com - May 7, 2008 By Conrad Brunner | May 7, 2008 Travis Diener underwent surgery to remove bone spurs from his left big toe Wednesday, the Pacers announced. ... Pacers G Diener has surgery National Post Travis Diener: Undergoes Successful Surgery Rotowire Pacers’ Diener undergoes surgery on foot Indianapolis Star all 5 news articles

Houston Rockets players Shane Battier, Rafer Alston have operations The Canadian Press, HOUSTON - May 10, 2008 Battier underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove bone spurs in his left ankle. Alston's surgery repaired ligament and tendon damage in his right ankle. ...