Spinal Bone Spur
The prospect of surgery and the following recovery period can be a source of anxiety for those with spinal bone spurs. However, many people with this condition do not require surgery to find lasting relief. Many people with spinal bone spurs do not experience disruptive symptoms, and those who do can often manage their discomfort with conservative measures.
Whether you’ll need to consider surgery depends on the specifics of your diagnosis: where the bone spur is located, whether it’s compressing a nearby nerve root or the spinal cord, what sort of symptoms you’re experiencing, and how greatly they impact your life. While a physician can evaluate your situation and discuss your best options, the following guidelines can help determine if you can avoid spinal bone spur surgery altogether.
Do Your Symptoms Interfere with Your Regular Routine?
A spinal bone spur doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll experience uncomfortable symptoms. Many people who have bone spurs don’t even know they’re there. While a bone spur often accompanies the aches and stiffness of arthritis, debilitating symptoms only develop if the protrusion compresses a nerve root or the spinal cord. These symptoms can be mild enough that they don’t prevent someone from working or participating in his or her daily routine. However, surgery might be a consideration if you’re experiencing symptoms that make it difficult to have a good quality of life.
Have You Fully Explored Conservative Options?
Mild to moderate symptoms can often be controlled through conservative options such as prescription or over-the-counter pain medications, exercise or spinal injections, or physical therapy. Alternative treatments such as chiropractic adjustment, therapeutic massage, or acupuncture may also be beneficial. If these options are currently working for you, you may be able to continue without needing to turn to bone spur surgery. However, if conservative methods aren’t providing enough pain relief or approaches that were once effective are no longer controlling your symptoms, it might be time to evaluate your surgical options.
Contact BEST Health System today to learn about the advantages of minimally invasive spine surgery. Our procedures use muscle-sparing techniques that allow for a streamlined outpatient experience. Are you ready to find relief? Reach out to BEST today.
