The Effects of a Bone Spur in the Neck

A bone spur in the neck often comes with neck pain and stiffness. It can also lead to a host of symptoms that radiate outward from the neck. In some instances, the presence of a bone spur will cause spinal stenosis, or a narrowing of the spinal canal. The narrowing of the spinal canal may give rise to other problems, such as impingement of the spinal cord or adjacent spinal nerve roots.

Why Are Bone Spurs Found in the Neck?

The cervical region (neck) is the second-most common region of the spine where bone spurs are found, behind the lumbar (lower) region of the spine. The neck is an area of the body that is extremely flexible and endures a great deal of wear and tear. The cervical spine, which consists of the top seven vertebrae extending from the base of the skull to the upper back, is responsible for supporting the weight of the head and facilitating a range of movements such as bending, twisting, and turning. The burden of carrying the head's weight and supporting frequent neck movement take a toll on the cervical spine. The cartilage coating the joints where the cervical vertebrae meet and articulate may eventually wear away, leaving bone to rub against bone. And, as a natural response to reduced cartilage on the vertebrae in the neck, the body may produce a small bony growth called a bone spur. Bone spurs are not sharp and do not hurt, but if they grow in just the right area, they can constrict the spinal canal and may irritate the spinal cord or a nearby nerve root.

Understanding Radiculopathic Symptoms

Surprisingly, a bone spur in the neck can cause symptoms to be felt away from the neck. Specifically, symptoms of pain, numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, and muscle spasms can radiate into the shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers as a result of a cervical bone spur. How is this so? Well, there are numerous nerve roots that branch off the spinal cord, and several of these nerve roots are located in the cervical spine. These nerve roots give way to subsidiary nerves that travel throughout the upper extremities all the way into the fingers. And, when a bone spur irritates a nerve root in the neck, the aforementioned symptoms can be sent along the length of the nerve and felt at any location along the nerve's course. This phenomenon is known as radiculopathy, and the set of symptoms are referred to as radiculopathic.