What it means
When a joint or disc wears, the body responds by laying down extra bone along the edges where bones meet. These ridges or hooks of bone are osteophytes. In the spine they grow from the corners of the vertebrae next to the discs and from the small facet joints at the back. On X-ray and CT they look like small lips or beaks of bone.
When it matters
Most osteophytes cause no symptoms and simply show that a joint has aged. They matter when they press on something nearby. A spur growing into a nerve opening or the spinal canal can crowd the nerves or spinal cord, which may cause pain, numbness or weakness in an arm or leg. Doctors compare the spur's location with your symptoms, and the report usually says whether nerves are affected.
Questions to ask your doctor
- Are any spurs narrowing a nerve opening or the spinal canal?
- Could these osteophytes explain my pain or stiffness?
- Are these spurs more than expected for my age?
