Bone spurs can cause pain, stiffness, inflammation, numbness or tingling in the wrist. They are usually caused by osteoarthritis and can be confirmed by an X-ray, MRI, or CT scan. Treatment includes reducing pain and swelling with medication, physical therapy, and immobilization. Surgery may be necessary if symptoms persist.
Bone spurs, or osteophytes, are bony growths that can grow along the spine or on the wrist, shoulder, knee, foot, or neck. A person with a bone spur may be asymptomatic until the bump irritates surrounding tissue. The most common symptoms of a bone spur in the wrist include pain, stiffness, inflammation, numbness or tingling. An X-ray, MRI, or CT scan may be done to confirm the spur. If it’s symptomatic, a healthcare provider will try to reduce the swelling and inflammation, but surgery is sometimes needed if the spur is pressing on a nerve.
Although bone spurs in general can result from injury, aging, tendonitis, spinal stenosis, or other disease, wrist spurs are usually caused by osteoarthritis. Arthritis wears away the cartilage that lines the end of each bone at the joint. When the cartilage is worn away, the bones begin to rub against each other and cause pain, and the surrounding tissues can become inflamed. The body tries to compensate for the condition by growing new bone along the edges where the cartilage used to be; this new bone is the bone spur.
Pain, inflammation and stiffness are the three main symptoms caused by a bone spur in the wrist. Numbness and tingling associated with carpal tunnel syndrome can occur if the spur presses or rubs against the medial nerve in the arm. To confirm the problem, a doctor may take an X-ray or other scan of the wrist. If the imaging study confirms the osteophyte, treatment can begin.
The initial goal in treating a bone spur is to reduce the patient’s pain and reduce swelling of the tissues surrounding the spur. Your healthcare provider may recommend over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, such as ibuprofen, or prescribe pain medications. Home care, such as applying cold or warm compresses to the area, can help reduce painful symptoms. You may also need to immobilize or lightly rest your wrist; Wrist exercises or physical therapy may also be suggested to improve or maintain flexibility. If your symptoms don’t ease with these treatments, your doctor may recommend a cortisone injection, which can potentially relieve pain for several weeks.
When conservative treatments are ineffective or symptoms are significantly affecting a patient’s life, carpal tunnel surgery may be required. During this surgical procedure, the pressure that the bone spur is putting on the nerve will be removed. Once the pressure is removed, numbness, tingling, and/or nerve pain are often eliminated.
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