If you have neck or low back pain that keeps coming back—or you feel tingling in an arm or leg that makes driving, typing, walking, or sleeping uncomfortable—it is easy to assume it is “just aging.” Sometimes it is. But sometimes the problem is a bone spur that has started to crowd the space where nerves travel. When that happens, the symptoms can feel out of proportion to what you see on an X-ray report.
This article explains what bone spurs are, what raises your risk, the symptoms that suggest nerve involvement, and how spine specialists decide between conservative care and procedures like decompression. If you are searching for bone spur treatment in Los Angeles, the goal is not simply to find spurs on imaging—it is to determine whether they actually explain your symptoms and what to do next.
What Are Bone Spurs?
Bone spurs—also called osteophytes—are smooth, extra bits of bone that form gradually, usually around joints. They are commonly a response to long-term stress on a joint, inflammation, or changes in stability. In other words, the body tries to “shore up” an area that has been under strain.
In the spine, bone spurs may develop along the vertebrae or around the facet joints (the small joints that guide spinal motion). Bone spurs themselves are not always painful. Symptoms usually occur when a spur narrows the space for a nerve root (where nerves exit the spine) or, less commonly, the spinal canal (where the spinal cord travels). When a nerve is irritated or compressed, symptoms can travel beyond the spine into the shoulder/arm or hip/leg.
For a condition-focused overview, see our page on bone spur treatment.
Symptoms of Bone Spurs in the Neck and Low Back
Many people have bone spurs on imaging and never know it. When symptoms do show up, they typically come from inflammation in nearby joints and soft tissues or from nerve irritation.
Symptoms that may be related to bone spurs in the spine include:
- Neck pain or low back pain that feels aching, stiff, or sharp with certain movements
- Pain that changes with position (for example, worse looking up, turning the head, standing, or walking)
- Numbness or tingling in the hand, fingers, foot, or toes
- Radiating pain into the shoulder/arm or down the buttock and leg (sciatica-like pain)
- Weakness in an arm or leg, such as trouble gripping, lifting the foot, or climbing stairs
- Coordination or balance problems, especially if the spinal cord is being affected
- Bowel or bladder changes in severe cases, which should be evaluated urgently
Because these symptoms overlap with other spine problems, the most helpful next step is a focused evaluation that compares your story and exam with what imaging actually shows.
Why Bone Spurs Form
Bone spurs are rarely an isolated finding. They usually develop alongside other age- or stress-related changes in the spine that alter how joints move and bear load.
Aging and Ligament Changes
Over time, spinal discs can lose hydration and height, and supporting ligaments may thicken. When tissues stiffen or joints become less smooth, the body may lay down extra bone at joint edges. This can contribute to stiffness and can also narrow spaces where nerves travel.
Arthritis and Joint Inflammation
Inflammation and cartilage wear can lead to irregular joint surfaces and spur formation. One of the most common drivers is spinal arthritis, including osteoarthritis treatment needs, where cartilage gradually breaks down and joints become more reactive.
Disc Degeneration and Segment Stress
When discs and joints degenerate, certain spinal segments may take on extra load and motion. That repetitive stress can encourage osteophytes to form. If you have been told you have disc degeneration, our page on degenerative disc disease treatment explains how these changes relate to pain and nerve symptoms.
Risk Factors for Bone Spurs
Bone spurs become more common with age, and they are especially frequent after 60. But age alone does not determine whether they cause symptoms. The risk of developing clinically meaningful bone spurs rises when joint wear, inflammation, or abnormal mechanics add up over many years.
Common risk factors include:
- Age-related spine and joint changes affecting discs, ligaments, and facet joints
- Arthritis, especially osteoarthritis, which accelerates cartilage breakdown and joint irritation
- Spinal stenosis, where bone spurs and thickened tissues can narrow the canal or nerve passageways; learn more about spinal stenosis
- Prior injury to the neck or back that changes how a segment bears weight
- Posture and repetitive strain that continually load the same spinal levels
- Genetics and family history of arthritis or early degeneration
It is also normal to see multiple “degenerative” findings together—disc bulges, arthritis, and bone spurs. The key question is which finding (if any) matches your symptoms and exam.
How Bone Spurs Are Diagnosed
Finding bone spurs is often straightforward. Determining whether they are the reason you hurt is the important part. Diagnosis usually starts with a detailed history (where you feel symptoms, what makes them better or worse, and how your function has changed) and a neurological and musculoskeletal exam.
Imaging and tests may include:
- X-rays to show bone spurs, arthritis changes, and alignment
- CT scans when a highly detailed look at bone anatomy is needed
- MRI to evaluate discs, nerve roots, the spinal cord, and soft tissues (often the most informative for nerve symptoms)
- Electrodiagnostic tests (nerve studies) in select situations to clarify the source of numbness or weakness
A reliable diagnosis is when your symptoms, exam findings, and imaging all point to the same level and mechanism. If they do not align, the plan should widen to consider other causes rather than jumping straight to a procedure.
Treatment Options for Bone Spurs
Treatment is based on severity, the location of the spur, and whether there are signs of nerve compression. Many patients improve without surgery, especially when the plan targets inflammation and biomechanics rather than relying on rest alone.
Non-Surgical Treatment
For mild to moderate symptoms, first-line options often include:
- Anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) when appropriate to reduce pain and swelling
- Targeted injections to decrease inflammation around an irritated joint or nerve (sometimes done as a series, depending on response)
- Physical therapy to restore mobility, strengthen core and stabilizing muscles, and reduce strain on painful segments
- Short-term activity modification during flares, with a gradual return to movement as symptoms settle
In spine care, “conservative treatment” works best when it is specific—focused on the movements that trigger symptoms, the muscles that need support, and the daily habits that keep re-irritating the same spot.
When Surgery May Be Considered
Surgery is generally considered when symptoms persist despite appropriate non-surgical care, or when there is clear evidence of nerve or spinal cord compression causing significant pain, progressive weakness, or meaningful loss of function.
In those cases, the goal is often to create space for the affected nerve through a decompression procedure. Depending on the anatomy, this may involve removing part of the spur and related tissue that is narrowing the nerve pathway. You can learn more about spinal decompression and how modern approaches can reduce muscle disruption for appropriately selected patients.
The right surgical plan depends on what is actually causing the narrowing and whether there is associated instability. A careful evaluation helps clarify whether decompression alone is reasonable or whether additional stabilization is being considered for a specific reason.
When to See a Specialist
Consider a spine specialist evaluation if you have pain that is not improving, keeps returning, or is changing how you live. It is also worth being seen sooner if nerve symptoms are present.
Common reasons to schedule an evaluation include:
- Pain lasting more than several weeks, or repeated flare-ups that limit activity
- Numbness, tingling, or radiating pain into an arm or leg
- Weakness, trouble gripping, frequent tripping, or reduced walking endurance
- Balance or coordination issues
- New bowel or bladder changes (urgent evaluation recommended)
Seeing a specialist does not mean surgery is next. It means you can get a clear explanation of what your imaging means, what is causing the symptoms, and which stepwise treatments are most likely to help.
Bone Spur Treatment in Los Angeles at Yashar Neurosurgery
Bone spurs are common, but the pain and nerve symptoms they can trigger can be disruptive—especially when walking, sitting at a desk, sleeping, or exercising becomes a daily calculation. At Yashar Neurosurgery, Parham Yashar, MD focuses on confirming whether a bone spur is truly responsible for your symptoms and then building a plan that fits your anatomy and goals, including non-surgical care and minimally invasive options when appropriate.
If you are looking for the best bone spur surgeon in Los Angeles or want an expert opinion on whether your symptoms are coming from nerve compression, you can schedule an evaluation with Yashar Neurosurgery in Los Angeles. Call (424) 209-2669 or request an appointment at 8436 W. 3rd Street, Suite 800, Los Angeles, CA 90048.
