Bone spurs or osteophytes are bony growths that form on the edges of bones through wear and tear or normal aging process of the skeletal system. The bone spurs are quite common among individuals over 60 years old but will not always result to back pain.
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Always bear in mind that these bony growths are not painful but they can apply pressure on adjacent structures such as the nerves and can trigger pain or other symptoms. Due to the high amount of movement and stress to the area, the lumbar spine is highly susceptible to the development of bone spurs.
Bone spurs due to the natural aging process
Most bone spurs develop due to some disease process but they can also develop on their own without any disease. They are often found among older adults who have no indications of osteoarthritis or other diseases.
As the body starts to age, the joints become less stable and could no longer endure stressful movements. The normal response of the body to instability in a joint is to grow new bone in an attempt to stabilize and strengthen the area. The bone spurs often develop due to this process. Staying active and mobile during the later stages in life with regular exercise can help prevent the development of bone spurs.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis involves a breakdown process that results to the distraction of cartilage that separates individual bones. Once the cartilage is destroyed, it enables the bones to rub against each other along with excessive wear and tear which leads to the formation of spurs.
The condition is considered as the most common form of arthritis and many adults over 50 years old will end up with some degeneration in the lumbar spine. Injuries, excessive weight or postural decline can result to the development of osteoarthritis.
DISH
DISH or diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis is a condition that often results to the development of large-sized bone spurs all over the spine. The condition causes calcification or hardening of the ligaments at the points of attachment in the spine that eventually develop into bone spurs.
The initial symptoms of DISH include pain, stiffness and loss of range of motion. It is still uncertain on the exact cause of the condition, but there are certain risk factors present that can increase the risk for developing it. Remember that these factors include being male, prolonged use of retinoid medications, older age mostly over 50 years old and diabetes. The bone spurs that develop with DISH can become large in size and flowing that can lead to various symptoms.