Osteophyte

The term osteophyte means “bone thorn.” It is commonly called a bone spur, or described as “extra bone growth.” The bone surface literally grows a little along its edges, forming a small, raised ledge or a pointed spur.

When discussing imaging results at a clinic, you may hear, “There is an osteophyte,” or “We can see bone spurs.” Osteophytes are among the most easily visible signs of degenerative changes, so they often come up in explanations of arthritis.

Joints bear the body's weight and withstand movement over many years. As cartilage thins and the space between the bones in a joint narrows (Joint space narrowing), the bone thickens along its edges to distribute the increased load over a wider area. Osteophytes are explained as forming through this response by the body.

They commonly develop in the following areas.

• Knees — Because these joints bear weight, their edges are prone to developing bony outgrowths (Osteoarthritis).
• Finger joints — They can be felt as hard lumps called Heberden nodes when they develop at the end joints, or Bouchard nodes when they develop at the middle joints.
• Spine — They form along the edges of the bones in the lower back and neck. When they grow toward the spinal canal, they may be discussed in connection with Lumbar spinal stenosis.
• Hips, tops of the feet, and big toes — They occur in joints that have been used over many years.

Most osteophytes do not cause pain, so you may not feel anything at all. They are often discovered by chance on imaging taken during a health checkup or for another reason. Even with a similar degree of osteophyte formation, some people feel comfortable while others experience discomfort. Reviews of knee MRI studies show that changes such as osteophytes are fairly common even in adults without knee pain.

Depending on their location, however, you may experience the following.

• A catching sensation or Crepitus (a grating sensation) when moving a joint
• Joint stiffness and a sense of reduced range of motion
• Finger joints that become enlarged and feel hard to the touch
• Tingling that spreads into the arms or legs when the spine is involved

No lifestyle measures are known to remove osteophytes themselves. Instead, focus on reducing the load on the joint and strengthening the surrounding muscles.

• Strengthen the muscles around the joint — Strengthening the thighs for the knees, or the core and gluteal muscles for the spine, reduces the impact on the joints (Resistance training).
• Keep moving regularly — Sitting for long periods makes joints stiffer. Low-impact activities such as walking, swimming, and cycling place less stress on them.
• Manage your weight — Losing weight noticeably reduces the load on weight-bearing joints such as the knees.
• Apply warmth — If you feel stiff in the morning, washing with warm water or applying a warm compress before moving can help you move more smoothly.
• Change positions — Take breaks from activities that concentrate stress on the same joints, such as squatting on the floor for long periods or standing in one position for a long time.

If a particular joint becomes increasingly painful and swollen, pain disrupts your sleep at night, or a joint suddenly feels locked and will not move, it is a good idea to have it checked. If tingling in your arms or legs persists, you feel weakness, or your walking feels uncoordinated, changes in the spine need to be assessed.