Bone Spurs

Also called osteophytes, these are enlargements of the normal bone structure that protrude into your spine (and in other areas of your body).  Bone spurs do not actually create a point but they are smooth structures formed and pulled over time by muscle spasms.  Muscle spasms are a protective mechanism in your body to prevent further injury from any number of causes.

Over time, tendons (that hold muscle to bone) and ligaments (that hold bone to bone) can actually start pulling the bone from where it should be, creating bone spurs.  Bones will conform to any pressure applied to them.  As these bone spurs grow and form, they will sometimes impinge on a nerve causing pain and debilitating symptoms. 

Bone spurs that form along the spinal column can lead to nerve impingement causing severe pain, restricted movement, radiating arm and leg pain, weakness in the extremities, numbness and, in some cases, disability.