Fact Checked
Neck bone spurs is an inflammation or damage on the ligaments and tendons around the joints of the cervical spine. It is a gradual degradation of the joints and wearing out of the cartilage as the person grows older. The inflammation causes formation of new bone in the damaged areas and eventually results to a bone spur.
Causes of neck bone spurs
- Health conditions such cervical spondylosis, untreated herniated disc or slip disc, diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis and osteoarthritis.
- Poor posture, obesity and malnutrition
Symptoms
- Dull pain in the neck
- Headaches due to bone spur pressing against a cervical nerve root
- Stiffness of the neck
- Numbness and tingling sensations in one or both arms or hands.
- Shock-like pain that spreads into the arm, shoulder and on one side of the body or radicular pain.
- Severe compression resulting to weakness and numbness of the whole body and loss of bowel and bladder control.
- Difficulty with swallowing due to impingement of the cricoid cartilage.
Treatment
- Take plenty of rest especially the affected area. Avoid performing strenuous activities; maintain proper posture such as sitting straight while taking a rest to lessen the symptoms.
- Perform exercises with the help of the physical therapist for strength, flexibility and lessen the pain in the neck.
- Apply hot or cold on the area. Wrap heating pad in a towel or place a wet towel between the skin and the heat to lessen the spasms of muscles and stiffness of the joints for at least 10-15 minutes. Another alternative is taking a warm shower is also good for the condition.
- Prescribed anti-inflammatory medication or muscle relaxants to lessen the pain and the symptoms.
- Rehabilitation exercises with the help of the physical therapist for strength and flexibility and restore range of movement of the affected area.
- Prescribed steroid injections to lessen the swelling and the pain.
- Fill a bathtub with warm or hot water, as hot that can be tolerated, add a cup of salt. Mix them until salt is totally dissolved. Soak the affected neck in the solution for at least 15 minutes to lessen the swelling and the discomforts.
- Perform regular exercises at least for 30 minutes walking every day, 5 times every week every morning to increase mobility and lessen symptoms of bone spurs. Swimming and cycling is also good for the condition.
- Take an Epsom salt bath. Put a cup of Epsom salt in a bathtub filled with warm water. Mix them well until salt is totally dissolved. Soak the whole body for at least 20-30 minutes 2-3 times every week to lessen the swelling, the inflammation and the pain.
FACT CHECK
https://www.medicinenet.com/bone_spurs/article.htm
https://www.spine-health.com/conditions/arthritis/treatment-options-bone-spurs
https://www.spine-health.com/conditions/neck-pain/cervical-osteophytes-bone-spurs-neck