Bone Spurs

Bone spurs, or osteophytes, are extra growths of bone tissue that appear like smooth lumps on the outsides of your bones. They’re common and they often don’t cause any problems. But they may cause symptoms if they irritate your soft tissues, interfere with the movement of a joint or put pressure on a nearby nerve.

Bone spurs tend to occur on bones that take a lot of stress, like your spine or your heels. They also occur at joints and sites where tendons or ligaments attach to the bone. They happen when your body is trying to repair tissue damage near the bone, or as a response to stress. Sometimes, your body creates new bone tissue to replace the damaged tissues — like a bony scar. This process is called osteophytosis.