Treatment for Bone Spurs in the Neck
The approach given to treat bone spurs depends on the severity of your symptoms and overall condition. The common options of treatment for mild cases include:
- Cold compress to reduce pain
- Steroid shots to decrease inflammation
- Rest
- Over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Physical therapy to increase range of motion
- Massage therapy to help manage pain
A bone spur can be more severe and reach a condition where its symptoms don’t respond to therapy and medication; in this case, the doctor may recommend cervical spine (neck) surgery. There are different types of surgery for neck bone spurs, and the conducting will depend on the underlying cause and location. Some example of these surgeries includes:
Spinal fusion – This is the easiest surgery, it is simply to seal two or more vertebrae back together.
Anterior cervical discectomy – This type of surgery is conducted to remove spurs and discs through the front of the neck.
Anterior cervical corpectomy – This surgery is conducted when the spurs can’t be removed via discectomy; then, it results in the removal and replacement of vertebrae
Posterior cervical laminectomy – This surgery removes the lamina at the back of your neck and help get rid of bone spurs that may be pressing on spinal nerves.
Before any of these surgeries is conducted, the doctor would first go over all the benefits and risks of bone spur removal surgery. The American Association of Neurological Surgeons established that, although it is uncommon, surgery carries the risk of nerve and spinal cord damage as well as increased pain.
Your doctor may also refer you to a physical therapist who can guide you through exercise to help decrease the pain, improve range of motion, build strength and improve posture.