How to Know If You Have Bone Spurs in Your Neck

Bone spurs are small formations that develop on the surface of the bone. Some bone spurs do not cause discomfort, while others can lead to pain and numbness in the affected area. Bone spurs in the neck are called cervical bone spurs, and may occur after an injury, or as part of a degenerative spinal disease such as spondylosis or stenosis. Knowing about the symptoms of a bone spur can help you tell if you have one on your neck.

Instructions

• 1

  Schedule routine physical examinations so that you and your doctor have a good picture of your overall health. Bone spurs in the neck are more common in people who have osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis and even nutritional deficiencies, according to The Spinal Columns Network. Preventive medicine may be able to help prevent cervical bone spurs, or at least alert you to the fact that you are more prone to the bony protuberances.

• 2

  Evaluate your neck pain to help you determine if you have bone spurs in your neck. Spurs can press down on the nerves in your neck and may cause symptoms such as tingling and numbness in your shoulder, arm and neck, in addition to pain. If you have headaches that accompany altered sensations in your neck and arm, you could have a bone spur in your neck.

• 3

  Learn about the less common signs of cervical bone spurs that could affect your health, and report them to your doctor for further examination and diagnostic testing. The Mayo Clinic explains that some people could experience difficulties when swallowing when bone spurs form inward, toward the esophagus. You might also feel pain when you breathe if you have this form of bone spur on your neck.

• 4

  Undergo imaging tests that will confirm a diagnosis of a bone spur on your neck. Your doctor may order magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or X-rays that will allow him to see the growths on your neck bones.