Bone spurs, often referred to as osteophytes, are smooth, bony outgrowths that develop over time along the edges of bones, typically in joints or along the spine.

Although they are a natural part of bone growth, they can damage surrounding bones, muscles, or tendons.

As we age, many people develop bone spurs, with osteoarthritis being one of the most common causes. However, bone spurs often cause no symptoms and may not require treatment. Certain natural and lifestyle strategies may help manage the condition.

Most people with bone spurs experience no symptoms because bone spurs themselves are not painful. However, their effect on nearby structures such as joints, nerves, and the spinal cord can lead to pain.

Back or neck pain is the most common symptom of bone spurs.

General Symptoms

Bone spurs can go unnoticed for years, but when symptoms do appear, they often result from pressure on nearby nerves, joints, or soft tissue.

• Pain: Bone spurs can inflame the affected joint, causing swelling and tenderness. Surrounding muscles may also become sore. Depending on the location of the bone spur, there may be a dull pain in the neck or lower back when standing or walking. Radiating pain may occur in the buttocks, thighs, shoulders, or head.


• Burning sensation: Bone spurs may trigger a burning or tingling sensation—similar to pins and needles—in the hands or feet.


• Loss of coordination: Bone spurs in the spine, especially in the neck, can compress nerves and interfere with movement, leading to loss of coordination in specific parts of the body.


• Muscle cramps and numbness: Compression or irritation of nearby nerves can lead to muscle cramps or numbness.


• Difficulty controlling bladder: Severe nerve pressure from bone spurs may result in loss of bladder or bowel control.

Location-Specific Signs

The effects of bone spurs vary depending on where they form in the body, with different joints showing distinct signs and symptoms.

• Heel: Heel bone spurs can cause increasing pain and tenderness at the bottom of the heel, which may worsen with activity or after long periods of rest.


• Knee: Knee bone spurs can lead to pain and difficulty straightening or bending the leg.


• Hip: Hip bone spurs can reduce range of motion and cause pain during hip movement.


• Shoulder: Shoulder bone spurs can limit movement and may cause swelling or tears in the rotator cuff—a group of muscles and tendons surrounding the shoulder joint.


• Finger: Finger bone spurs can cause pain during movement, with the joint appearing enlarged or knobby. Lumps may also form on the joints.

Bone spurs are part of the body’s natural healing response.

As people age or experience injury, cartilage and other joint cushioning break down, causing bones to rub together. In response, the body creates bone spurs to stabilize the joint and repair the damage.

There are several causes of bone spurs, including:

Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of bone spurs. As cartilage in the joints wears away and surrounding tissue becomes damaged, the body attempts to repair the area by creating new bone to stabilize the joint. This process—driven by inflammation and the activation of bone-forming cells—leads to bone spur formation.

Aging: As people age, the discs in their spine and the ligaments around their joints begin to wear down and loosen, reducing joint stability. The body responds by thickening the ligaments to hold bones together. Over time, these thickened ligaments may develop small bone deposits, which can form bone spurs.

Injuries: Injuries—such as those from sports or motor vehicle accidents—may prompt the body to produce extra bone tissue to help heal the affected area.

Overuse of a joint: Repetitive stress or overuse of a joint from activities like running, dancing, or lifting can place constant pressure on the joint, contributing to bone spur development.

Heredity: Genetic factors also contribute to the likelihood of developing bone spurs. If a person has a parent who experienced painful bone spurs, their risk may be higher. In rare cases, a congenital condition can lead to bone spurs.

Risk factors of bone spurs include:

Excessive exercise: Repetitive or high-impact physical activity can place added stress on joints, which may contribute to the development of bone spurs.

Certain medical conditions: In addition to osteoarthritis and plantar fasciitis, conditions such as arthritis, spinal stenosis, and ankylosing spondylitis may increase the risk of developing bone spurs.

Obesity: As body mass index increases, the frequency of bone spurs in the lower back—particularly in the rear portion of the spine—also tends to rise.

Poor nutrition: Deficiencies in vitamin E, vitamin K, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, niacin, and vitamin B6 may contribute to bone spur formation.

Flat foot: Also known as pes planus, flat feet may increase injury risk, which can lead to bone spurs.

Bone spurs typically do not require treatment unless they are causing pain or other symptoms. Resting, gentle stretching, or wearing shoes with proper arch support may help relieve discomfort. Losing weight, if overweight or obese, can also reduce pressure on the joints.

Cold and Heat Therapy

Alternating between cold therapy—for pain and inflammation—and heat therapy—for muscle relaxation and increased blood flow, may offer temporary relief.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy offers significant benefits through targeted exercises—such as calf stretches, plantar fascia stretches, toe curls, and resistance band work—that improve flexibility, build strength, and enhance overall foot function while relieving nerve pressure.

Footwear Modifications

To treat heel spurs, wearing shoes with proper arch support, cushioning, and a secure fit can reduce pressure on the heel and help ease symptoms.

Custom-made shoe inserts or heel cups can also provide support and promote proper alignment, reducing strain on the plantar fascia.

A small, randomized controlled trial suggested that customized insoles and minimalist, flexible footwear may help alleviate symptoms of heel spurs in some women.

Boswellin

Boswellin is a specialized extract of Boswellia serrata (Indian frankincense). In a 2019 pilot study involving 48 people with knee osteoarthritis, participants were randomly assigned to receive Boswellin or a placebo for 120 days. The results showed that Boswellin significantly reduced pain and stiffness and improved physical function. X-rays confirmed improvements, revealing a wider knee joint gap and fewer bone spurs compared with the placebo group.

See a doctor if you notice an abnormal growth, experience pain, have joint weakness, feel discomfort that worsens with activity, or have difficulty walking.

Depending on the severity of your condition, several treatment options may be available:

Conservative Treatments

In addition to natural and lifestyle strategies, several other nonsurgical treatments may help relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and improve joint function in people with bone spurs.

Over-the-counter painkillers: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen or naproxen, can help relieve pain and reduce inflammation.

2. Advanced Treatments

These treatments are usually reserved for people with persistent or severe symptoms.

• Shockwave therapy: Uses sound waves to promote healing and reduce pain


• Corticosteroid injections: Reduce pain and swelling temporarily, but may damage tissue with repeated use


• Platelet-rich plasma: Uses the patient’s own blood platelets to support tissue repair and promote healing


• Radiofrequency treatments: Use noninvasive techniques that may be effective for up to six months, particularly for patients who do not respond to injections

3. Surgery

Surgery for bone spurs is considered a last resort when other treatments fail, as it poses the greatest risk among all options. The surgical approach depends on symptom severity and individual circumstances, such as:

Surgical removal of bone spurs: A bone spur repair involves removing the excess bone. The doctor makes one or more small incisions near the spur and uses specialized tools to extract the growth. This procedure may be performed using a lighted viewing tube called an arthroscope or through open surgery with a larger incision.

Joint replacement surgery: Bone spurs may be treated during joint repair or replacement in cases when osteoarthritis has caused significant damage and deformity. Examples include hip and knee replacements.

Minimally invasive procedures include:

• Percutaneous fasciotomy: A small incision is made to release tight fascia


• Endoscopic fasciotomy: A camera-guided tool is used to release tight fascia


• Fascia debridement: Damaged fascia tissue is surgically removed

4. Acupuncture

Many reviews suggest that acupuncture may be an effective complementary or integrative therapy for managing pain.

A 2015 case report—the first known instance in medical literature of acupuncture used as the sole treatment for a heel spur—found it effective in dissolving the growth. In the case, a 38-year-old woman who had experienced heel pain for five years underwent 38 acupuncture sessions over six months. After the first month of acupuncture, her pain began to improve, and X-rays showed that the heel spur had disappeared. No side effects were reported. The researchers suggested that acupuncture could be a potential treatment for heel spurs, though they emphasized the need for randomized controlled trials to confirm its effectiveness.

Your mindset—including stress levels and emotional outlook—can influence pain perception, inflammation, and healing, which may affect bone spur symptoms.

• Mindset and pain perception: A resilient mindset may increase pain tolerance and reduce perceived discomfort. Someone with a positive attitude may feel less pain from bone spurs compared to someone who expects the pain to worsen. Focusing on pain can cause the brain to amplify pain signals, making symptoms feel more intense.


• Stress and inflammation: A high stress mindset increases cortisol—a hormone linked to inflammation and joint degradation. Increased inflammation can worsen arthritis, which contributes to bone spur formation. People with a proactive mindset may be more open to practices such as meditation, deep breathing, and mindfulness to help lower cortisol, reduce inflammation, and ease pain.


• Mindset and movement: A fear-based mindset—believing that movement will worsen pain—may lead to inactivity, which can increase muscle stiffness and worsen bone spur symptoms. A positive mindset encourages mobility, and staying active with low-impact exercises—such as walking, swimming, or stretching—can help maintain joint function and prevent stiffness.

Possible complications of bone spurs include:

• Foramen stenosis: Bone spurs that develop in the foramen—small openings between spinal discs and joints—can narrow these spaces and put pressure on nearby nerves.


• Nerve compression: Bone spurs can press on nerves, causing neuropathy and radiculopathy and leading to pain, numbness, or weakness along the nerve’s path.


• Corns and calluses: Bone spurs in the foot can cause pressure and friction, which may lead to the development of corns and calluses.


• Loose bodies: A bone spur that breaks off can become a loose body that moves within the joint or becomes lodged in the joint lining. These loose bodies can cause the joint to “lock,” making movement difficult. The locking sensation may come and go.


• Rotator cuff disorders: Bone spurs in the shoulder—often from repetitive use—may pinch the rotator cuff tendons and contribute to rotator cuff injuries or degeneration.

Bone spurs are diagnosed through a clinical evaluation, which involves several steps:

Medical History

The patient’s description of their symptoms and medical background is an important part of diagnosing bone spurs.

Physical Examination

The doctor will assess the joint and surrounding tissue, as some bone spurs can be felt while others cannot. The exam includes palpation or touching specific areas, visual inspection, and an evaluation of the gait cycle for signs of swelling, bruising, or heel pain. Range of motion testing may also be performed to assess joint flexibility.

After reviewing the patient’s medical history and conducting a physical examination, the doctor will work to rule out other conditions with similar symptoms but different causes.

Tests

Imaging tests: A doctor may request additional diagnostic imaging tests, such as X-rays, computed tomography scans, or magnetic resonance imaging, to confirm the diagnosis and assess the affected bones and joints. X-rays are often used to highlight bone changes, especially when symptoms of bone spurs or arthritis are present.

Electroconductive tests: Electroconductive tests measure the extent and severity of spinal nerve injury and may be used if nerve involvement is suspected.

While bone spurs caused by arthritis may not be preventable, you can reduce your risk by taking proactive steps, such as:

• Wearing proper footwear: Shoes with a wide toe box, arch support, and cushioning can help prevent pressure and friction that contribute to bone spur formation. Supportive insoles may also be helpful, particularly for people with flat feet.


• Using thick socks: Thick socks can reduce rubbing from shoes, which may increase bone friction and contribute to bone spurs.


• Doing weight-bearing exercises: Weight-bearing exercises—such as walking or stair climbing—help keep bones strong and support joint health.


• Maintaining a healthy weight: Staying at a healthy weight reduces joint stress, which may lower the risk of bone spur formation.


• Taking preventative measures: If you notice joint pain, swelling, or stiffness, consult a doctor early to manage arthritis and help prevent bone spurs.