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The Curious Bag
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A bone spur is a protrusion that forms on one of your joints, which is most common in people over the age of 60. One of the most common areas for bone spurs to occur is the top part of your spine, along your neck.
Causes
Causes of bone spurs in your neck include heredity, natural degeneration of your spine due to aging, nutrition, sports or accident-related injuries, poor posture, congenital defects present at birth and osteoarthritis.
Symptoms
Bones spurs in your neck have the potential to cause dull pain that radiates to your shoulders and arms.
Risks
If the bone spur causes your vertebrae to turn inward, the Mayo Clinic warns, it may make it difficult for you to breathe, or even cut off oxygen to your brain. The latter has the potential to cause cerebral hypoxia, a condition that can result in unconsciousness, permanent brain damage or even death, according to the National Library of Medicine.
Time Frame
The symptoms and effects of bone spurs in your neck typically develop gradually over a period of months or years, explains the Mayo Clinic.
Treatment
Treatment for bone spurs in the neck usually combines rest and oral or injectable prescription medications to relieve pain and inflammation. If the osteophyte is affecting your oxygen supply or breathing, it may need to be surgically removed, explains Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
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