Risk Factors For Bone Spur In The Knee
Given the fact that people with family medical history of bone spur in the knee will experience the same in the future, there are other risk factors that increase its occurrence earlier than expected. Apart from the degenerative period, additional risk factors include:
What Are The Symptoms
Many people have bone spurs without ever knowing it, because most bone spurs cause no symptoms. But if the bone spurs are pressing on other bones or tissues or are causing a muscle or tendon to rub, they can break that tissue down over time, causing swelling, pain, and tearing. Bone spurs in the foot can also cause corns and calluses when tissue builds up to provide added padding over the bone spur.
What Are Bone Spurs And What Causes Them
A bone spur, also known as an osteophyte, is a smooth, hard bump of extra bone that slowly forms on the ends of bones. Their formation is much more common after age 60, but younger adults can also experience them in some cases.
Bone spurs most commonly occur at joints, where two bones meet. They are most often caused by inflammation to that area. For example, due to osteoarthritis or tendonitis.
Chronic inflammation at the joint stimulates osteoblasts, the cells that form new bone tissue, to deposit bone tissue in that area, eventually leading to a bony projection, or bone spur.
In rare cases, they can occur due to congenital conditions that youre born with. For example, an osteochondroma.
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What Is Bone Spur Of Knee
- Bone spur is an abnormal bone growth that can develop on the surface of bones. Usually, bone spurs are not painful by themselves, but may cause pain when they rub against the nerves and press surrounding tissue
- Bone spurs may develop on the surface of any bone. It most commonly involves the bones of the feet, elbow, and spine. Joint damage caused by degenerative joint disease, such as osteoarthritis, is the primary cause of bone spur in the joints
- Individuals with Bone Spurs of Knee rarely experience any signs or symptoms. However, in some cases, individuals may experience pain in the knee
- A majority of Bone Spurs of the Knee grow very slowly and are stable. However, in some cases, the growth is more rapid and unpredictable. In these cases, the healthcare provider may recommend surgery to remove the bone spurs
- Over-the-counter oral medications, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, are recommended if the condition is painful. Surgery may be required, if Bone Spurs of the Knee reduce an individual’s range of motion in the affected knee joint, presses on nerves, or if the pain is not controlled by medication
- The prognosis of Bone Spurs of Knee is usually good and conservative methods are usually effective in treating many individuals. However, occasionally, a recurrence of the condition is noted
Treat Your Bone Spurs The Natural Way
Bone spurs can be very painful and can lead to a significant reduction in joint mobility. This can reduce your ability to perform various daily tasks and recreational activities. Fortunately, you can slow the progression of osteoarthritis and bone spur growth with physical therapy exercises.
The Injurymap app has a range of exercises for every part of the body. This includes all the parts of the body that can potentially develop bone spurs. You can use the app to perform stretching and strengthening exercises to relieve the pressure on your joints. The app shows you how to do each exercise with the correct form and technique. You can work out in the comfort of your home with little to no equipment.
Remember, osteoarthritis and bone spurs progress over time, so prevention is important. The earlier you begin exercising, the more successful you will be in reducing the pain from bone spurs. Try the Injurymap app today to ease your bone spur pain.
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Unfortunately Bone Spurs Arent Preventable
There are no ways to prevent the development of bone spurs. However, you can take self-care steps at home to keep your bones and joints healthy and decrease your risk of injuries.
- Exercise regularly. Regular exercise is the best thing you can do to maintain strong, healthy joints, muscles and bones. Low-impact exercises like walking, swimming, bicycling or yoga can help you stay active while reducing stress and pressure on your joints and soft tissues.
- Maintain a healthy weight. Excess body weight places more stress and pressure on weight bearing joints. Talk to your doctor about ways you can maintain a healthy, stable weight.
- Wear supportive footwear. Reduce the risk of heel spurs by wearing shoes that fit correctly and provide good heel and arch support. Additionally, supportive shoes will reduce pressure on your knees, hips and back.
How Are Bone Spurs Diagnosed
For those suffering from moderate to severe osteoarthritis, bone spurs can be a major contributor to pain and dysfunction. In these cases, diagnostic imaging is often used to examine the structure of the knee joint. Using X-ray imaging, physicians can assess the level of cartilage damage within the knee and identify the extent to which bone spurs have formed over the surface of the joint.
The Kellgren and Lawrence Osteoarthritis Classification 1 is commonly used by physicians to determine the severity of osteoarthritis. Information gathered from diagnostic imaging is examined using the KLOC criteria to provide a severity grade between 1-4. Those with severe or grade 4 osteoarthritis will have multiple large bone spurs within the knee joint. Typically bone spur growth is observed around the joint line where cartilage has degenerated and has led to painful bone on bone friction.
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How Do You Heal A Bruised Elbow
A bruised elbow treatment plan should include: Resting the elbow for proper healing. Elevating the arm to reduce any bleeding and swelling. Applying a compression bandage to the elbow to address swelling and bleeding. Wearing a sling to prevent further injury to the elbow and for comfortable movement of arm.
What Are Symptoms Of Bone Spurs
Some people have bone spurs and dont even know it. Spurs start to create symptoms when they:
- Put pressure on nearby nerves.
- Restrict movement.
- Rub against other bones or tissues.
When that happens, you may feel some:
- Knobby or bumpy areas, especially in the fingers or toes.
- Numbness and weakness, especially in the legs if the spine has spurs.
- Pain near the affected joint, like heel pain.
- Reduced range of motion .
- Stiffness.
- Tendinitis .
- Tendon tears .
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Osteoarthritis Is The Leading Cause Of Bone Spur Development
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. Also called wear and tear arthritis or degenerative arthritis, it occurs when the protective layer of cartilage covering joints begins to break down and wear away. The body attempts to repair cartilage loss by producing extra bone around the damaged joint.
How To Dissolve Bone Spurs Naturally
Bone spurs, if youve had them, can be extremely painful or barely noticeable, or somewhere in between. Each patients case is unique, which is why its essential to learn about bone spurs, how to dissolve them, and your treatment options in full before leaping to start surgery. Our medical director, Dr. Steven Burns, DPM, FACFAS, always considers each patients unique needs and lifestyle before suggesting surgery and typically coordinates a more conservative treatment option before surgery as an option. Why? Bone spurs can be dissolved and pain can be alleviated without taking a scalpel to your feet. For many, surgery can be more disruptive than the bone spur itself.
So, what are bone spurs? What do you need to know? Osteophytes, or bone spurs, are calcium deposits found on the bone, particularly on or around joints. Over time, the cartilage that cushions your foot and toe joints break down due to wear and tearthis is called osteoarthritis. Your body develops these calcium deposits as an attempt to replace the cartilage that has been lost.
For some, bone spurs on the feet and toes can cause limited mobility, severe joint pain, and numbness. For others, bone spurs can go unnoticed for years because of the lack of symptoms. Each case is unique, which is why its crucial to meet with a podiatrist for professional evaluation and diagnosis.
To alleviate your pain and to start treating bone spurs conservatively, follow our tips below.
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The Spurs Themselves Are Not Painfulbut They Cause Pain When They Affect Nearby Structures
Bone spur development is common with age, as the bodys joints, tendons and ligaments undergo natural degenerative changes. In a lot of cases, bone spurs are small and non-painful. Many people live with bone spurs for years and only discover them after getting an X-ray or imaging study for another reason. However, bone spurs can cause symptoms when they compress or irritate nearby tissues or nerves.
The most common symptoms of bone spurs are pain, stiffness and loss of movement in the affected joint. In the shoulders, spurs may rub against the rotator cuff tendons, leading to tendonitis or a tendon tear. In the hands, spurs may form in the finger joints, causing loss of joint movement and a knobby appearance in the fingers. In the hips and knees, spurs can lead to stiffness and a loss in range of motion. In the feet and ankles, painful spurs can cause pain in the bottom of the foot or heel.
The cervical and lumbar spine are two of the most common areas for bone spurs to develop. Vertebral spurs can compress nearby nerve roots or the spinal cord and cause the open spaces in the spine to narrow. Nerve root or spinal cord compression in the lumbar spine leads to sciatica, pain, weakness, numbness and tingling in the low back, buttock and leg. Compression in the cervical spine leads to the above symptoms in the neck, shoulder, arm and fingers.
Facts You Need To Know About Bone Spurs
What is a bone spur? Bone spurs also called osteophytes are outgrowths of bone that form where the ends of bones meet in joints. Bone spurs commonly develop with age and many people live with them for years, undetected. However, these bony overgrowths can also lead to significant pain and other symptoms for some people. Keep reading to learn 5 key facts you need to know about bone spurs.
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How Is Bone Spur Of Knee Treated
The methods for treating Bone Spurs of Knee depend on the severity of the signs and symptoms. Conservative methods for individuals with mild to moderate pain may include:
- Rest: Any activity that aggravates the condition further should be avoided. The healthcare provider may advise individuals to refrain from participating in certain activities, until the symptoms get better
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory oral medications, such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and acetaminophen may be used to treat bone spurs. These medications can help decrease pain and swelling
- Corticosteroid injections help provide temporary relief of symptoms, and in improving the range of motion. It is important to note that corticosteroid injections only give temporary relief. Prolonged episodes of such injections may injure the joints in the long-run
- Physical therapy exercises that include strengthening and improving flexibility in the knee can help reduce discomfort. It can also help decrease pressure on the nerves
Surgical treatment for Bone Spurs of the Knee: If conservative treatments are unsuccessful, surgery may be recommended. A common surgical procedure is:
- Bone spur removal: This procedure involves the surgical removal of any abnormal bony growth in the knee
Book An Appointment With One Of Our Orthopaedic Surgeons Today
If you have bone spurs and feel that you need relief from the symptoms youâre experiencing, why not come and talk to one of our consultants? In your private consultation, you will be able to talk with them about your symptoms, explain how it is affecting your life, and ask them for their expert advice and opinion
During your visit, your consultant will also be able to arrange for you to have any tests required, such as X-rays or other diagnostic scans. In the majority of cases, weâll be able to carry these tests out on the same day. However, in some circumstances, and especially if the test requires specific preparation, weâll need to arrange the test for another day. .
If youâre experiencing pain, stiffness or nerve-related problems that are being caused by bone spurs, you donât want to have to wait weeks or months to receive help and treatment. At Circle we have no waiting lists, meaning you can be seen by one of our specialists promptly and then receive any treatment you need without undue delay.
Contact our friendly team today to book your consultation at a time that is convenient for you, in the Circle hospital nearest to you.
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What Is Knee Osteoarthritis
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Knee osteoarthritis is defined by degeneration of the knees articular cartilagethe flexible, slippery material that normally protects bones from joint friction and impact. The condition also involves changes to the bone underneath the cartilage and can affect nearby soft tissues.
Other types of knee arthritisKnee osteoarthritis is by far the most common type of arthritis to cause knee pain, and often referred to as simply knee arthritis. Many other less common types of arthritis can also cause knee pain, including rheumatoid arthritis, pseudogout, and reactive arthritis.
Symptoms Of Bone Spur In The Knee
As said earlier, it might be challenging to detect bone spur in its earlier stage. However, bone spur in knee joints does not cause any symptoms unless there is a severe situation. In such cases, symptoms include:
The causes mentioned above change to severe condition depending on how the individual is attempting to proceed with a treatment or experiencing the pain in the knee joint.
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What Causes Knee Arthritis
Age is the most common cause of knee osteoarthritis, as the ability of cartilage to heal decreases as we get older. Most people will eventually develop some degree of osteoarthritis.
The following factors increase the risk of developing significant arthritis at an earlier age:
- Weight. Weight increases pressure on all the joints, especially the knees.
- Heredity. Some people are more apt to develop arthritis based on the shape of their bones around the knee.
- Gender. Women who are 55 and older are more likely than men to develop osteoarthritis of the knee.
- Repetitive stress injuries. People with jobs requiring a lot of kneeling, squatting, or lifting of heavy weights are at increased risk for knee osteoarthritis.
- Other illnesses. People with rheumatoid arthritis are more likely to develop osteoarthritis. Other metabolic disorders, such as iron overload or excess growth hormone, also increase the risk of osteoarthritis.
How To Treat Bone Spurs
Treatment for bone spurs generally depends on the severity of the pain being experienced. If pain is mild, doctors may recommend medication to reduce the inflammation of the tissue surrounding the bone spur . In some cases, doctors may recommend physical therapy to help increase joint motion and strengthen surrounding muscles, which may help alleviate some symptoms.
Bone spurs which are causing more severe pain may either be treated by cortisone injection or by surgery. The goal of surgery is to remove the bone spur altogether and alleviate any associated irritation. Bone spurs may reoccur sometime after surgery if the initial cause of the spur is not found and corrected.
If you suspect you may have a bone spur, consult with your doctor.
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What Are The Most Common Symptoms Of A Knee Bone Spur
Knee bone spurs, also known as osteophytes, may occur at the end of the thigh bone, shin bone, or knee cap in areas where the cartilage has worn away. Although the spur is not painful in and of itself, it may cause inflammation of the surrounding tissues or may contribute to the development of osteoarthritis. The symptoms caused by spurs may be treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, corticosteroids, or surgery.
The thin layer of cartilage that cushions the area where the bones meet in the knee may begin to break down. The cartilage may become frayed or develop pitting. When this happens, the bones try to compensate for the loss of cartilage by growing new bone tissue, or bone spurs. The ends of the bone thicken and the joint loses its shape. Bone spurs commonly occur in the knee, feet, hands, hips or spine.
Most of the time, the spurs do not hurt, but they may cause problems for nearby muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves, or tissues. The area around the spur may become red and inflamed. People with knee bone spurs may also notice symptoms of osteoarthritis. Joints may lose range of motion, become more stiff than usual, or take on a deformed shape.