Osteophytes: what it is and how to treat them

The Concept of "osteophyte" comes from the Greek words "osteo" (bone) and "Fitas" ("plant"). There may be osteophytes: what is it? This term refers to abnormal growths on the bones. Usually their appearance is a result of complex injuries and fractures, chronic inflammation or degenerative-dystrophic diseases of joints. Also such education develops in the body, suffering from diabetes or cancer metastases to bone from other organs.

Often the osteophytes does not give out its presence and do not affect the quality of life, and sometimes germinate on the surface of the bones of the feet and hands (then they can be seen with the naked eye). These formations are called "spurs" that justifies their form (SIPO or subulate). Osteophyte large size can significantly limit the mobility of the diseased joint (especially if there are osteophytes of the hip joint).

the location of the osteophytes of the spine

symptoms of the presence of osteophytes manifest themselves with progressive and advanced States of the disease. Usually it makes itself felt by the appearance of aching pain in the lower back, thoracic area, back hips. Meet osteophytes of the spine (in the neck), perhaps with the recoil in the shoulder joint. Often observed headaches. Large osteophytes causing acute pain and inflammation in muscle and bone tissue. Symptoms such as tingling and numbness of hands and feet (one limb or all simultaneously), their weakness and immobility, characterized by osteophytes that push on nerve endings.

causes of pathological growths

The Most common reasons are as follows:

Inflammatory processes of the bone tissue. If the cause of the inflammation become such microorganisms as Staphylococcus, Streptococcus or Mycobacterium, most likely, the doctor will diagnose osteomyelitis. This illness affects components of the human bones. Most vulnerable to the hips, shoulders, shins, joints of the jaws, and the osteophytes of the spine are not uncommon. Often the process of restoring bone tissue after the disease ends with the appearance of osteophytes. But these formations have a tendency to a gradual decrease in size and eventually may even completely disappear without any effort or treatment.

Physical activity is the cause of osteophytes

Degenerative state of the tissue. Ailments such affects elderly or young people who are forced to constantly test your joints for strength, loading them beyond measure for various reasons (sports, work, etc.). Along the way, to degeneration of the cartilage and can cause disease, for example, spondylosis or osteoarthritis.

broken bones. Osteophytes often appear because of broken bones, mostly in the Central parts. This type of growths is called post-traumatic. If a broken bone is infected and the injury is accompanied by osteomyelitis, the development of osteophytes is almost inevitable. Often the construction for them is the periosteum.

It is responsible for the successful and rapid regeneration of damaged bone. The development of "spikes" is typical after injury, usually to the knee and elbow joints. Same osteophytes develop and ruptures of ligaments and joint capsules. After final healing of the fracture and with adequate stress on the limb such osteophytes may gradually decrease and disappear. In the case of excessive loads possible expansion and modification of the shape of the growths.

A Long stay in an unnatural pose. A constant finding in the same forced position necessarily leads to an overload of certain groups of joints. For this reason the cartilage in joints break down and can be destroyed. To lighten the load on the bone tissue under conditions of non-functioning cartilage of the joints, the body triggers a protective mechanism (the growth of osteophytes).

Trauma is the cause of osteophytes

The Formation of bone tumours. Sometimes the osteophytes appear as a consequence of neoplastic disease, regardless of whether it is benign or malignant. Grow "spikes" and in the spread of metastases from other organs to the bone. More likely the formation of growths are characterized by phenomena such as osteogenic sarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, osteoarthritis, cancer of the prostate and mammary glands.

Endocrine diseases. Acromegaly – an endocrine disorder that is often accompanied by severe deformations of the human skeleton. This condition occurs in the case of production of excessive amounts of growth hormone. All the bones of the skull and extremities of a person are greatly increased, thorax and spine are deformed and bent. Patient is severely limited in motion. Acromegaly is often complicated osteoarthrosis or spondylosis.

A Warning about the appearance of osteophytes can be called healthylifestyle, activity, adequate load on the spine (the vertebrae) and the bones in General. The recurrence of osteophytes can be avoided, so long as you avoid injuries of bones and joints, infections of open fractures, not to overload the limbs and spine, maintain a healthy lifestyle and a balanced diet, eating more foods containing calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, manganese and copper. Also do not forget about vitamin D which prevents osteophytes of the spine and other parts of the body.

MRI for diagnosis of osteophytes

What should be the diagnosis

As already mentioned, osteophytes do not have distinct symptoms. But, if the disease is complicated with one or several comorbidities, and the body continues to experience heavy load, the body is constantly in unnatural positions or injured bone, it is possible that a person will experience pain in the affected joints, numbness of limbs, limitation of motor function. Under such and other similar symptoms the doctor will prescribe x-ray or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) of the bones and joints, discomfort in the concerned patient.

Also useful would be information obtained using EMG (electroneurogram). This method recognizes and records the conductivity and the degree of nerve damage.

In the case of severe osteophytes can be diagnosed by visual examination or palpation the surface of the bone. But, in order that the doctor can prescribe effective treatment, have to resort to hardware methods of examination.

the Right treatment

Asymptomatic disease does not require any special treatment.

Moreover, most patients with osteophytes and does not know about their existence. But how to treat them?

Therapeutic exercise for treatment of osteophytes

With the appearance of mild symptoms, start treatment anti-inflammatory and analgesic ointments, special massage techniques, prescribe a course of physical therapy, physiotherapy, or injections of steroid drugs.

But in difficult cases the course of disease, with a sharp pain, significant limitation of motor activity conservative methods become ineffective and symptoms the presence of osteophytes "poison" the life of the patient. How to treat them? From osteophytes must be cured with surgical intervention. Surgery to remove osteophytes contributes decompression of the nerve endings. If they were not compressed too long, the operation will give a positive result. In the opposite case patients and can disturb the regional symptoms of neurological disorders.

Pondering the decision on whether removal of osteophytes, the doctor does not take into account the age of the patient. Much more important is that he had no concomitant diseases in the acute form of diabetes, hypertension, heart failure, etc.

And of course, treatment of osteophytes was designed to combat the phenomena that become the cause of their appearance, such as trauma, fractures, arthritis, metabolic disorders, tumors.

traditional medicine

To get Rid of the "spikes" folk remedies is impossible. But quite successfully to struggle with pain resulting from growths, can. Folk remedies osteophytes is decoctions and infusions of plants (elderberry and hawthorn). For example, you can take a handful of hawthorn flowers, pour 600 ml, let stand and take 30 grams a half hour before meals.

About the same is prepared and elderflower infusion: a tablespoon of berries thrown into a glass of boiling water, stew about 15 minutes in a water bath, then cooled and filtered.

To Adopt the tool you need half a Cup 2 times a day.