Bone spurs fears

HEALTH/ The condition is often asymptomatic and may go undetected for years

Joint pains need not necessarily always mean arthiritis. A lesser-known condition can also lead to pain and at times even disability.

Bone spurs, also known as osteophytes, are bony projections that grow along the edges of the bones and can rub against nearby nerves and bones, causing pain.

Even though bone spurs can form on any bone, they most commonly grow where bones meet each other (joints) or where ligaments and tendons connect with bone.

In some cases, the spurs can also form on the bones of the spine. The cause of bone spurs is still unclear, though experts believe that they happen due to changes in joints caused by diseases and ageing, with the most common disease leading to spurs being osteoarthritis. But they can also form on their own.

Most bone spurs are asymptomatic and may go undetected for years. The spurs that rub against other bones or push against nerves are the ones that result in pain and disability.

The treatment of bone spurs depends on where they are located and how they affect you. To confirm bone spurs, doctors advise imaging tests like X-ray exams and computerised tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to get a look at your joints and bones. Treatment is typically directed at the underlying problem to prevent further joint damage.

Pain-causing spurs are usually treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to ease the pain, while those that hinder movement may even require surgery. If your bone spurs don't cause you any pain or if they don't limit the range of motion in your joints, then in all likeliness you won't require any treatment.

Of course, as with any other condition, the solution to the problem of bone spurs begins with first recognising them and the exact degree of threat they pose. As stated earlier, bone spurs should not be mistaken for arthritis, though they may also be caused by it.