Causes

• Bone spurs are created when you develop a disease or underlying medical condition, such as osteoarthritis. For example, if you suffer from osteoarthritis, the cartilage in your joints will begin to deteriorate. As a result, your body will try to compensate for cartilage loss by creating new bone material in the formation of spurs. However, the spurs will grow along the edges of already existing bones. Women who wear high heels can create spurs due to shoes that are too tight. According to Cigna, the plantar fascia (ligament on the bottom of the foot) can become stressed causing a condition known as plantar fasciitis, which can then result in heel spurs. Athletes can also develop spurs in their rotator cuffs due to the continual use of upper arm muscles.
  
  

Symptoms

• In many instances, there are no symptoms of a bone spur. However, symptoms can include pain in your joints or a loss of motion of the joints. Pain may also be located in a specific area of the developed spur. For example, a spur in the shoulder will restrict movement of the arm. Spurs in your fingers will disfigure the fingers. The pain in your fingers may also be intermittent. Spurs in your neck can make it difficult for to breathe or swallow. Spurs in the spine can cause numbness in your body. Spurs within your knees can make it difficult for you to extend your knee.
  
  

Diagnosis

• According to the Mayo Clinic, a bone spur may not be detected until seen on an X-ray for an underlying condition. Otherwise, if you're experiencing pain, your physician will examine the affected area. At times, a bone spur can be felt by your physician. Your physician may also order other tests, such as a computed tomographic or magnetic resonance imaging scan to confirm a diagnosis.
  
  

Complications

• According to the Mayo Clinic, a condition known as "loose bodies" can occur when a bone spur breaks off from a larger bone. The loose bodies can then move within your joints or eventually become embedded in the lining of your joint. Loose bodies can also drift in between the spaces of your bones. As a result, this can cause what is known as "intermittent locking," which can create the bizarre sensation that you're unable to move your joint. This sensation may come and go when loose bodies move freely within the joint.
  
  

Treatments

• Treatments are necessary if you're experience pain as a result of a spur or to prevent damage within your joints. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen can help with pain. Surgery is usually recommended when a spur is limiting your range of motion. Depending on the severity of your spurs, your physician can make an incision around a joint to gain access to the affected area in order to remove the spur. A bone spur can also be removed arthroscopically. In an arthroscopic procedure, several incisions are made around the affected area, and small specialized surgical tools are inserted through these incisions. The bone spurs are then extracted, and the incisions are sutured.