If you are feeling back pain that is caused by spinal spurs, you want relief. In Carrollton, GA, Dr. Peter Lazarnick (Dr. Pete) has a full-service chiropractic office that can offer you several options for pain relief.
What are spinal spurs?
Spinal spurs are osteophytes, bone growths that actually are misnamed. They are smooth, while the name bone spur would seem to imply that they are sharp. They can grow on any bone and most people will have heard of a heel spur. The most common place that they grow, however, is the spine.
Spinal spurs do not grow on bones overnight, they grow slowly over years, and it is only when they get to a certain size that they cause pain and are noticed. In the spine, when a spur develops in the opening for the nerve root, they cause the space to be smaller, pressing on the nerve and causing pain. This is known as foramen stenosis.
What causes spinal spurs?
Many factors contribute to spinal spurs, but the most common is normal aging. As we age, the ligaments get looser and no longer hold the joints tightly. The body compensates for that by causing the ligaments to thicken, which in turn form small pieces of bone. The thickening ligaments and the new bones put pressure on the nerves in the spine.
Other causes of spinal spurs include:
- Heredity
- Poor posture
- Poor nutrition
- Injury
- Arthritis
- Spinal stenosis
Symptoms of spinal spurs
Most people aren't aware of spinal spurs until they begin to suffer from dull back pain or neck pain when standing or walking. In addition to just the pain, other symptoms can help your chiropractor diagnose the condition. If, in addition to the pain you have:
- Pins and needles in feet and hands
- Loss of coordination
- Muscle cramps or spasms
- Muscle weakness
- Numbness
- Radiating pain either in the buttocks or the shoulders
- Headaches
- Loss of control of bowels and bladder
What treatment options are available for spinal spurs?
After your initial exam and diagnosis, Dr. Pete will discuss the options that are available to you. Spinal manipulation is one of the obvious choices. This will help to improve any misalignment that you have in your back or neck and this can help relieve the pain and allow you to move more freely. Therapeutic exercise can also help to stretch the back and help to take the pressure off the nerves. It can also help to improve posture and this helps with the pain as well.
Contact Dr. Pete in Carrollton, GA to get treatment for back pain related to your spinal spurs. You can reach us on the phone at 770-832-2226.