Also known as osteophytes, spinal bone spurs are small growths along the spine which can cause great discomfort during any kind of activity. Some spinal bone spurs can go unnoticed if they aren’t rubbing against a nerve or muscle. However, if a spur compresses any nerve along the spine, patients will likely experience sharp pain in one or both of their legs and arms.

A tingling sensation, numbness and increasing levels of weakness are also strong indicators of a spinal bone spur. If other existing conditions such as arthritis or stenosis are present, patients could experience bladder or bowel dysfunction. During periods of rest, the pain will noticeably subside.

Procedure information
Tests such as MRIs, CT scans and radiographs can determine the extent of the problem. Non-invasive treatments such as muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatory drugs, physical therapy, cortisone injections or simply decreased activity are the preferred treatment. Endoscopic surgery is used as a last resort if other treatments aren’t helping.

This lightly invasive procedure involves a tiny camera in a tube which is positioned inside the body at the site of the spinal bone spur. The surgeon can then remove the bone spurs and any scar tissue with little impact on the patient. Since the incision and instruments used in endoscopic surgery are very small, patients don’t even need stitches after the procedure.

Recovery time
The recovery time for endoscopic surgery is extremely fast. Patients can engage in light activity the day following the procedure and there is a very low chance of infection or other complications. As there are no sutures involved, there are no bandages to change and therefore no need for an overnight hospital stay. Doctors may prescribe a muscle relaxant or anti-inflammatory for any pain, and patients will likely be required to make a postoperative visit to see a doctor for check-up purposes.