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What is a Bone Spur in the Knee?

What is a Bone Spur in the Knee?

It is possible for any individual to experience a bone spur in the knee for several years, as the symptoms shown by it develop over a period. Nonetheless, when this happens, the person feels extremely painful and makes it difficult to carry out the regular activities of the day. In some cases, it becomes difficult for the movement of the knee due to the bone spurs.

Bone spurs are capable of growing in any part of the skeletal body.1 However, the commonly occurring region is the joints. Unlike the belief that they are sharp, bone spurs are smooth bumps developed by the body itself in response to treat the damage occurred to the joints. The occurrence of symptoms is only possible when the individual has a bone on bone contact.

What is a Bone Spur in the Knee?

Symptoms of Bone Spur in the Knee

As said earlier, it might be challenging to detect bone spur in its earlier stage. However, bone spur in knee joints does not cause any symptoms unless there is a severe situation. In such cases, symptoms include:

  1. Knee pain
  2. Stiffness 2
  3. Irregular movement of the knee
  4. Extreme pain when bending and extending the knee.

The causes mentioned above change to severe condition depending on how the individual is attempting to proceed with a treatment or experiencing the pain in the knee joint.

Causes of Bone Spur in the Knee

The occurrence of bone spur in the knee is the result of growing an additional bone by the body as part of self-repair to protect the knee cartilage layer that wears out over the period due to stress and pressure. The occurrence of bone spur in the knee is common due to the aging process. However, many of the people may experience the same in earlier stages due to excessive weight and abnormal health conditions. The stress experienced by the joints over the period will lead to the development of osteoarthritis, which specifically attacks the joints of the skeletal structure. The knee joint is the most commonly affected part by osteoarthritis.

Risk Factors for Bone Spur in the Knee

Given the fact that people with family medical history of bone spur in the knee will experience the same in the future, there are other risk factors that increase its occurrence earlier than expected. Apart from the degenerative period, additional risk factors include:

  1. Obesity – it is the major issue because it increases the stress on the knee joints
  2. Family history – people with family history of bone spur in the knee have higher percent of the occurrence of bone spur
  3. Injuries – history of new injuries such as dysplasia and fractures
  4. Stress – involving in repetitive actions that increases the burden on knee joints

Diagnosis of Bone Spur in the Knee

The doctor will determine the symptoms are occurring due to Bone Spur in the Knee. In order to do so, he or she will ask you several questions and learn about bone spur in the knee. The common questions that you might come across include:

  1. Symptoms that you are experiencing
  2. For how long you are experiencing the pain
  3. Previous history of accidents or injuries that affected the knee joint
  4. Family history related to osteoarthritis
  5. Details related to the daily activity and the repetitive actions that you carry out.

Treatment for Bone Spur in the Knee

Although requirement of treatment is unnecessary, one may find it helpful in reducing the pain by carrying out the following activities:

  1. Reducing weight
  2. Using pain relievers provided by the doctor
  3. Opting for physical therapy that will improve the flexibility and stability of the muscular structure around the region
  4. Use of cortisone injections as preferred by the doctor
  5. Opting for surgery as the final treatment, where the doctor will remove the damaged cartilage and tendons

Doctors may also choose for joint replacement if bone spur in the knee is severe or part of a more significant problem.

References:  

Team PainAssist
Team PainAssist
Written, Edited or Reviewed By: Team PainAssist, Pain Assist Inc. This article does not provide medical advice. See disclaimer
Last Modified On:July 8, 2019

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