Cervical Bone Spurs

Many people have the misconception that cervical bone spurs are the cause of back pain. Actually, cervical bone spurs is a symptom of spinal degeneration. The medical name for cervical bone spur is osteophytes. It is most commonly observed among people who are above the age of 60. Spine degeneration starts in the early adulthood, but cervical bone spurs only develops in about 40 percent of the total number of people.

Causes

Our vertebral column consists of 32 segments which are separated from each other by spinal discs that are made of ligaments and collagen. These discs act as shock absorbers and enables the flexible movement of the spinal segments. The motion in between any two segments is restricted by the ligaments. At the back of the disc, there is a small opening (called foramina) for the exit of the nerve roots from the spinal canal. The hole is so small that only the exiting nerve can pass through it. With the degeneration of the disc material, the ligaments become loose and the movement of the joint increases. Slowly, the body compensates for the deterioration by making the ligaments that hold the bones thicker. After sometime, due to calcification of thick ligaments, formation of bone spurs begin. Thus we can say that cervical bone spurs develop as the body tries to repair the damage caused by degeneration of bone mass. The newly formed projections then start protruding into the area reserved for the nerves and thus put additional amount of pressure on the nervous system and spinal discs.

So what causes bone spurs and degeneration of bone mass? The main cause is aging. Cervical bone spurs can be caused if there is degeneration of discs and joints of the cervical bones because of some injury, malnutrition, excessive weight, or poor posture. Other health condition like osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, spondylosis etc. which can lead to breakage of cartilage is also responsible for development of this disorder.

Symptoms

When the disorder is at an early stage, it does not show any symptoms. Due to cervical bone spurs, the coordination between various parts of the body gets badly affected. Growth of bone spurs can lead to nerve impingement. As a result of which, numbness, muscle pain, weakness in muscles, neck pain, and shoulder pain are most commonly observed bone spur symptoms. The pain occurs when the cervical bone comes in contact with other bones. The pain in the neck and shoulder area gets aggravated with physical activities, and patients get substantial relief only after proper rest. At times, the cervical joint gets locked, and movement of the joint becomes difficult.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Cervical bone spurs can be diagnosed with the help of a MRI, CT Scan, electroconductive test and X-Ray. MRI and electroconductive tests are helpful in comprehending the seriousness of the nerve injury. Doctors investigate into the medical history of the patient to confirm cervical bones spurs before the start of the treatment. The conventional method of treatment is the patient is advised to take rest. They are suggested either to cut down on their physical activity, or take complete bed rest. A neck brace is also given to some patients. For the purpose of pain relief, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or pain killers are administered to the patients. In case they are ineffective in controlling the pain, then muscle relaxants are given to get rid of the pain, swelling, stiffness. If all these treatments fail to yield the desired results, then surgery is recommended for the removal of the spur.

Some people consider yoga exercises an excellent alternative medicine for cervical bone spurs. It is believed to be helpful in strengthening of the muscles around the cervical bone and is effective in better pain management. Massage also give some temporary relief to the tension of the muscles of the affected area.