Bone spurs are common bony overgrowths linked to spinal wear-and-tear, and they only become a problem when they inflame joints or crowd nerves—treatment ranges from physical therapy and injections to minimally invasive decompression when needed.
You finally get an X-ray or MRI for neck or back pain, and the report mentions “bone spurs.” That can be confusing—especially if you’ve stayed active, stretched, and tried to be careful with your posture. The truth is bone spurs are common, and many people have them without symptoms. What matters is whether a spur is simply an age-related finding or whether it is actually irritating a joint or crowding a nerve.
This guide explains what spinal bone spurs are, what causes them, the symptoms that suggest nerve involvement, and how treatment decisions are typically made. If you’re searching for the best bone spur surgeon in Los Angeles, the most valuable first step is a careful diagnosis that connects your symptoms to what’s seen on imaging—so treatment targets the real pain generator.
Bone spurs are small bony overgrowths called osteophytes. In the spine, they tend to form where the body is trying to reinforce an area that has been under chronic stress—most often near joints and discs. You may see them described on imaging around:
Bone spurs are often a marker of spinal degeneration, meaning they commonly appear as part of the natural aging process. Importantly, “bone spur present” does not automatically explain pain. Many people have osteophytes that never touch a nerve and never cause symptoms.
Most bone spurs form because the spine is adapting to change. As discs dehydrate and lose height and as joints experience cartilage wear, the mechanics of that spinal level shift. The body may respond by laying down extra bone to stabilize the area. That added bone can be harmless—or it can take up space in areas where nerves travel.
Spinal discs act like shock absorbers between the vertebrae. With age and repetitive stress, discs can lose hydration, flatten, and provide less cushioning. That can increase load on nearby joints and contribute to spur formation along the edges of vertebrae. If your symptoms and imaging point to disc wear, a focused plan for degenerative disc disease treatment may be part of your care.
Osteoarthritis is wear-and-tear arthritis. In the spine, it often affects the facet joints. As cartilage thins, joints become irritated and inflamed, and osteophytes can form around the joint margins. This can contribute to stiffness and local pain and, depending on location, can narrow the space for nearby nerves. Learn more about how arthritis is managed through osteoarthritis treatment.
Car accidents, hard falls, and contact sports can alter the way the spine bears load. Even when an injury heals, subtle changes in alignment or joint motion can accelerate degenerative changes at certain levels, increasing the chance of osteophyte formation later.
Aging affects more than bone. Discs gradually lose water content, connective tissues can become less elastic, and joints are more prone to inflammation. Over many years, those changes can contribute to narrowing around the spinal cord or nerve roots—especially when spurs form in tight spaces.
Bone spurs tend to cause symptoms in three main scenarios:
Location matters. Spurs in the cervical spine (neck) can affect the shoulders, arms, hands, balance, and coordination depending on what is compressed. Spurs in the lumbar spine (low back) more commonly affect the buttocks and legs and may worsen with walking or standing.
Your symptoms depend on whether the spur is affecting a joint, a nerve root, or the spinal cord. Common bone spur-related complaints include:
Seek urgent medical evaluation for red-flag symptoms such as rapidly worsening weakness, new difficulty with balance, or bowel/bladder control changes. These symptoms can indicate more significant nerve or spinal cord involvement and need prompt assessment.
One of the most common frustrations is being told you have bone spurs without getting clarity on whether they explain your pain. A meaningful diagnosis connects three things: what you feel, what a clinician finds on exam, and what imaging shows at the same spinal level.
X-rays are good at showing bony anatomy, alignment, and osteophytes. MRI is often used when symptoms suggest nerve irritation because it can show the spinal cord, nerve roots, discs, and soft tissues. In some situations, CT may help define bony narrowing in more detail.
Your specialist also considers other common pain sources that can look similar, such as disc herniation, facet joint inflammation, or combined degenerative changes at multiple levels. The goal is not to “treat the MRI.” The goal is to treat the anatomic problem that truly matches your symptoms.
Most bone spurs do not require surgery. Treatment typically begins by reducing inflammation and improving how the spine is supported and loaded during everyday movement.
Targeted physical therapy is often the foundation. A good program focuses on mobility, core and hip strength, posture and body mechanics, and practical strategies for sitting, driving, lifting, and sleeping.
Medications may help during flare-ups. Options can include anti-inflammatory medications when appropriate and other physician-directed pain strategies based on your health history.
Image-guided injections may be used to reduce inflammation around an irritated nerve or joint. In some cases, injections also provide helpful diagnostic information by confirming which level is most responsible for pain.
Activity and conditioning matter for the long term. Many patients do better with consistent low-impact exercise and a realistic home routine for flexibility and strength—even if bone spurs remain visible on imaging.
Surgery is usually considered when there is a clear correlation between imaging and symptoms and when non-surgical care has not provided enough relief, or if neurologic function is worsening. The surgical goal is typically decompression: creating more space for the nerve root or spinal cord by removing the tissue (which may include bone spur) that is causing crowding.
For appropriately selected patients, minimally invasive spine surgery can sometimes achieve decompression with smaller incisions and less disruption of surrounding muscles than traditional open surgery. The right approach depends on where the spur is, how much narrowing is present, whether more than one level is involved, and whether there are additional problems like instability.
If you want to understand the full range of options that may apply to your diagnosis, it can help to review broader resources on spine conditions and when spine surgery is considered.
Consider a specialist evaluation if your symptoms are persistent, recurring, or limiting daily life—especially if you notice nerve-type symptoms. Common reasons patients seek an appointment include:
A thorough exam and imaging review can clarify whether bone spurs are incidental findings or part of a treatable compression problem—and which next step is most reasonable for you.
When bone spurs cause real limitations—like arm numbness, sciatica-like leg pain, or walking intolerance—you deserve an explanation that is specific to your spine, not generic advice. At Yashar Neurosurgery, Parham Yashar, MD, focuses on careful diagnosis first, then builds a plan that matches your goals, from non-surgical treatment to advanced decompression options when surgery is truly indicated.
If you’ve been told you have bone spurs and you’re still in pain, schedule an evaluation with Yashar Neurosurgery in Los Angeles. Call (424) 209-2669 or visit 8436 W. 3rd Street, Suite 800, Los Angeles, CA 90048.
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