Bone Spur Treatment
Important Information on Bone Spur Treatment
Many people go through life never knowing they even have a bone spur; treatment never being necessary because of a lack of symptoms. In some, however, pain or tissue damage resulting from the spur does require some type of attention.
The human body is a remarkable instrument. When an injury occurs in any form to the body, its first response is to attempt to heal itself. Spurs of the bone are the perfect example of this phenomenon. Most often occurring in the feet, shoulders, knees, hands, hips and spine, spurs are bony developments that grow along the surfaces of bones. Causes of the spurs can be osteoarthritis, chronic irritation to a ligament or tissue in the foot and a mere response to the aging process. When diagnosed with a bone spur, treatment can be determined according to the type of spur and its location.
Humans place extreme stress upon the feet; activities such as dancing, running and sports as well as being overweight. These conditions can sometimes create a tightening of the long ligament located on the bottom of the foot, resulting in inflammation as it pulls on the heel. The body tries to rebuild bone in that area to heal the disorder which can materialize as a heel bone spur; treatment for this type of spur is actually concentrated on the soft tissue rather than the bone. Symptoms will likely include foot pain with localized fever, especially when standing or walking.
Osteoarthritis is, quite simply stated, inflammation of the joint. In the natural aging process, the cartilage at the ends of our joint bones collapse and wear away. Symptoms of this disease can be exhibited in as pain in the joint, swelling with possible redness and warmth at the touch. Bone spurs can develop in these areas as the body tries to heal itself through additional calcium deposited. The commonly affected areas for osteoarthritis through the aging process are the spine and the feet.
Bone spur treatment can actually take three different forms. Doctors may recommend treating the cause, the symptoms or the bone spur itself. Weight is the primary causal effect of many spurs, so losing weight is often recommended as a bone spur treatment. Treating symptoms of spurs can involve ibuprofen, ice and rest; designed to reduce pain and swelling. In certain circumstances, the bone spur itself will be targeted by removing it surgically.
Bone spur treatment is often not required; it is generally treated only when pain, swelling or wearing away of tissue is present. The best course is through prevention. Taking care to maintain a healthy diet and weight, avoiding possible injury to joints and exercising are the key ingredients to preventing most diseases, including bone spurs.