Spinal Bone Spurs Symptoms and Causes

As a bone spur develops and begins to compress nerves and surrounding blood vessels, bone spur symptoms such as numbness, tingling, or pain may begin to set in. As the condition worsens, more severe nerve compression may result in muscle weakness and a loss of coordination.

A common bone spur symptom is numbness or tingling in the extremities. The location of the bone spur and affected nerve will dictate where you feel this. For example, an affected nerve in your neck will generally produce bone spur symptoms in your shoulders and upper extremities.

Cervical Bone Spur Symptoms

  • Neck and arm pain.
  • Pain that radiates into your shoulder and down your arm.
  • Numbness or tingling in the arm.
  • As the condition progresses, muscular weakness may start to be seen in the arm.
  • Lumbar Bone Spur Symptoms
  • Lower back pain.
  • Leg pain.
  • Numbness or tingling felt in the leg.
  • As the condition progresses, muscular weakness may start to be seen in the leg.

In very rare cases, bowel and bladder function may be affected as well, you may also feel numbness in and around the groin area. (an indication that immediate surgery is required to avoid permanent damage)

Causes of Bone Spurs

Bone spur formation can be caused by several different factors. First and foremost, bone spur formation may occur naturally over time as we age, which is why they seem to be so much more common in the elderly rather than in the younger population. Osteoarthritis, for example, is a common bone spur cause linked to our natural aging process. Many people will not even know they have a bone spur until it starts to apply pressure to the surrounding nerve and muscle structures.