Problems Caused by Bone Spurs in the Upper Neck Area
Bone spurs, or osteophytes, can protrude from the bones of the vertebral column and cause unpleasant symptoms 3. Others are less problematic. Asymptomatic osteophytes, the medical term for symptomless bone spurs, cause no symptoms at all and may only be detected when the patient is x-rayed for some unrelated health matter 3. Osteophytes that grow within the cervical spine, or neck, have the potential to cause a number of problems 2.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Pain
Nerves that pass through the cervical spine descend into the torso and exit through openings in the vertebral column to conduct nerve impulses from the brain to the body and back again 2. Bone spurs in the neck can affect the sensory nerves that detect pain. Dr. John Schneider, a neurosurgeon writing for the website Spine-Health, explains that cervical osteophytes may cause a dull pain in the neck, or a radiating pain that shoots into the shoulders and can cause headaches 2. Activity tends to exacerbate the pain, while rest relieves it.
Numbness or Paresthesia
Symptoms of Thoracic Spine Problems
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Bone spurs that compress the nerves, may impede sensory nerve impulses from reaching the brain. A lack of sensory input can translate to numbness in the area supplied by the affected nerve. Paresthesia is another potential sensory result of nerve impingement in the neck. Paresthesia is a tingly, pins-and-needles feeling that is often experienced when a limb has fallen asleep after being held in an awkward position for too long.
- Bone spurs that compress the nerves, may impede sensory nerve impulses from reaching the brain.
- A lack of sensory input can translate to numbness in the area supplied by the affected nerve.
Spinal Stenosis
When a bone spur protrudes into the spinal canal, it can cause a condition known as spinal stenosis, which is a narrowing of the passageway through which the spinal cord descends. This can impinge the cord and cause spinal cord dysfunction, or myelopathy, according to Spine-Health.
Cervical stenosis caused by bone spurs can result in symptoms of muscle weakness that extend as far down as the legs, causing them to feel heavy 23. A person with cervical spinal stenosis may have difficulty walking or, in rare cases, experience muscle paralysis 2.
Throat Discomfort
Signs of a Bone Spur in Elbow
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At times, a large bone spur of the cervical spine can be linked to the presence of throat symptoms such as difficulty and pain when attempting to swallow 23. Dr. Ausama Alaani of the Ear Nose and Throat Department of Queen Elizabeth Hospital in the UK explains that large osteophytes in this region may obstruct or impinge cartilage in the throat, or cause muscle spasms or inflammation of the area.
Related Articles
References
- "Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine"; Chronic Throat Symptoms Cured By Osteophyte Excision; Ausama Alaani et al; April 2004
- Spine-Health: Cervical Stenosis
- Spine-Health: Symptoms of Bone Spurs
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Cervical spondylosis (arthritis of the neck). Updated August 2015.
- Arthritis Foundation. When a back or neck ache means you have OA. November 1, 2019.
- Columbia University Department of Neurology. Cervical spondylosis. 2015.
- Wiffen PJ, Derry S, Moore RA, et al. Antiepileptic drugs for neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia - an overview of Cochrane reviews. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(11):CD010567. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD010567.pub2.
- Harrington Henwood, AM. Cervical spondylosis with myelopathy: painful and sometimes paralyzing. American Nurse Today. March 11, 2011.
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Cervical Spondylosis (Arthritis of the Neck). Aug 2015.
- Association of Academic Physiatrists. Smoking Cigarettes Can Be a Chronic Pain in Your Neck. Feb 17, 2016.
- Mayo Clinic. Cervical Spondylosis. June 16, 2018.
- MedlinePlus. Cervical Spondylosis. Apr 18, 2017.
Writer Bio
For 15 years, Charis Grey's award-winning work has appeared in film, television, newspapers, magazines and on the Internet. She has worked as a story editor on the CBS drama "Flashpoint" and her work appears bimonthly in "The Driver Magazine." She has a Bachelor of Science in biology and a doctorate in chiropractic medicine from Palmer College.