What Causes Cervical Bone Spurs?

Cervical bone spurs are also known as cervical osteophytes. While not painful in themselves, they can lead to pain if they begin to make contact with other bones. In severe cases, these bone spurs can cause pinching of nerves or narrowing of the spinal cord, leading to pain, numbness and even muscle weakness. Problematic bone spurs can be treated with rest, corticosteroids, surgery, or muscle strengthening exercises.

Osteoarthritis

• Osteoarthritis can cause the gradual degeneration of cartilage in the discs in the neck. As this happens, small growths of bone are formed to try to compensate for the lack of support.

Spondylosis

• In cervical spondylosis, the combination of osteoarthritis and smaller cervical bone spurs lead to more advanced cartilage degeneration, resulting in accelerated bone spur growth.

Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis

• In this condition, which cause is unknown, small bits of bone begin to form on the spinal ligaments, especially in the neck.

Poor Posture

• When poor posture goes uncorrected for many years, the spine loses some of its support, leading to the growth of bone spurs in the neck and back to help compensate.

Bone Degeneration

• Osteoporosis can also lead to degeneration of the cervical vertebrae, causing them to grow small bony outgrowths in an attempt to stabilize the vertebrae.