What Is a Bone Spur | Extra Bones in Shoulder, Foot, Heel and Neck

Bone spurs are actually extra bones that grow in areas where there are joints, like in the knees and elbows. These are growths that usually occur during the later years of your life. Somewhat smooth and grows over time, these extra growth of bones in your body can actually become painful or can tear at ligaments and nerves if they rub at these other parts of your body.

• Bone spurs are often found in areas of the body like the spine, the hands, the hips, the shoulders, and the knees. They can also be found in a person’s feet and basically in any bone of the body.
• Also called osteophyte, this problem can cause certain limitations in the joint motion that a person usually has. When found along the joints, these bone spurs are often associated with arthritis.
• Bone spurs are not the real problem but are indications of an underlying problem like arthritis or spinal degeneration.
• Despite the term “spur” conjuring up visions of sharp protrusions, these are smooth growths and are not sharp at all. They are however rather debilitating when found in areas that can cause a person pain and discomfort as well as difficulty in motion.