How to Prevent Bone Spur Pain

Bone spurs are painful. The bone spurs rub against nerves and nearby bones in joints and the pressure on the nerve causes the pain. The actual medical name for bone spurs is "osteophytes," which are described as bony projections that grow along the edges of bones. Preventing the pain of bone spurs can be challenging, as there really isn't a cure, so doctors recommend various types of treatment depending on the patient's level of pain and where the bone spur is located.

Instructions

• 1

  Visit your doctor to help properly diagnose that your pain is caused by a bone spur. Depending on where your pain is located, your doctor may recommend non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to help ease the pain. This will reduce the swelling and, hopefully, take some of the pressure off the nerve that is causing the pain.

• 2

  Exercise may be recommended to build up the muscles in the joints from where the bone spur pain is generating. Your doctor may recommend more structured exercise from a physical therapist to get you started on a helpful and rehabilitative plan of exercise. This course may take four to six weeks before a difference in the level of pain is noticed.

• 3

  Have surgery. Removing the bone spur by surgery may have to be an option to prevent further pain from a bone spur. The surgery would have to be planned and discussed under the guidance of your orthopedic doctor to determine if this could be handled on an outpatient basis or if more extensive surgery would be necessary.

• 4

  Try using an ice pack and elevating your leg, arm, foot or hand, depending on where your bone spur pain is. The idea is to reduce the swelling by taking pressure off that joint area and to numb the nerve.

• 5

  Use shoe inserts, such as gelled heel lifts, if your bone spur is located in your heel or foot area. Also, wear shoes that have good support and avoid standing and walking for long periods at a time.