First Line of Treatment

• The first line of treatment is to identify the signs and symptoms of bone spurs. Although most bone spurs present no symptoms, spurs are often identified during X-rays for other ailments. If symptoms are present, the patient may complain of pain in the joints and a loss of motion in the effected area. Other symptoms can occur depending on the location of the spur. For instance, a spur in the spine may press up against nerves and cause numbness throughout the body in different areas. Bone spurs in the shoulders can prevent you from having the full movement of your arms. Other different symptoms exist for spurs in the fingers, neck and knees (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2009).
  
  

Tests and Diagnosis

• Patients with bone spurs who present symptoms normally complain of pain in a certain joint. A physician will usually feel around manually for the spur. Once the doctor has completed the physical examination, you are usually sent for imaging tests before the doctor makes a final diagnosis. These imaging tests will be done by one of the following methods: X-ray; computerized tomography, or CT scan; or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan.
  
  

Medical Treatment

• If bone spurs are identified while performing tests for other ailments and you are not experiencing symptoms, the bone spurs are usually ignored and no treatment is given. Spurs creating pain or loss of motion are treated in two different ways. However, these treatments are normally reserved to help with the problem that is causing the bone spurs and not actually the spurs themselves. Medications are one form of treatment. Typically the medicines prescribed are simply pain relievers given to relieve joint pain. Physicians can recommend surgery to remove the spur, but this is reserved for the most aggravating spurs. Surgery is usually only performed for those spurs causing severe pain and loss of motion that keep you from performing your daily routines per the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.