Osteophyte/Bone Spur Treatment in Tampa

Osteophytes or bone spurs are an indicator of disc degeneration which could be the cause of your pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in your back and limbs.

Osteophytes Formation

Bone spurs or osteophytes are quite common in patients over the age of 60. Commonly misinterpreted as the source of a patient's pain, osteophytes are often an indication of another problem. Degeneration of the spine such as spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, spondylosis, or arthritis can all cause bone spurs over time by thickening ligaments that calcify.

Osteophytes are easily visible through imaging such as an MRI or x-ray. Patients who suffer from bone spurs generally feel pain in the neck or lower back, radiating pain in the nearest limb to the affected vertebrae, numbness, tingling, weakness, and pain in arms and legs. 

Most patients complain about pain and stiffness in the mornings and evenings or during excess movement such as walking for long periods of time.

Patients who suffer from osteophytes are first prescribed nonsurgical treatments. These treatments include medication, rest, physical therapy, or injections. For patients who do not respond to these, surgery such as a laminectomy can be a successful solution. 

Surgery for bone spurs has a high success rate and can be performed as a minimally invasive outpatient procedure with quick recovery time and fewer risks than traditional surgery.