A bone spur in the neck does not necessarily produce symptoms. Only if the excess bony growth - also known as an osteophyte - makes contact with the spinal cord or a nerve root will symptoms arise. In fact, many people middle-aged and older have bone spurs in their neck (cervical region) or lower back (lumbar region) and never know it. While the lower back is the most common site for osteophyte growth, the fact that the neck is subjected to a great deal of stress-inducing movement makes it susceptible to bone spur growth, as well.
Cervical Nerve Compression
A bone spur in the neck can affect the nerves that originate in the cervical spine. These nerves innervate the head, neck, shoulders, upper back, arms, hands, fingers, and the rest of the upper body. When nerve compression occurs within the neck, it can produce the following symptoms:
Sharp or constant pain in the area of the neck, shoulders, or upper back
Pain or a burning sensation that radiates along the length of a nerve, down the arm, and into the hands and fingers
Pain associated with rotating or twisting the head
Tightness or stiffness in the neck, shoulders, or upper back
Tenderness when the affected area is touched
Headaches
Treatment
Surgery to treat a bone spur in the neck is almost always the last resort. Even chronic symptoms generally can be managed using pain medication, physical therapy, hot/cold therapy, corticosteroid injections, and other conservative treatment methods. Only if chronic symptoms persist after several weeks or months of conservative therapy will surgery become an option.
See Your Doctor
Neck pain that lasts more than a few days should be diagnosed and treated by a doctor. Patients are often tempted to dismiss a sore neck as a minor issue that can be treated with over-the-counter pain medicine and massage, but there's always a possibility that neck pain could be the symptom of a serious condition like meningitis or a tumor.
Meningitis
Neck pain is a main symptom of a bacterial or viral infection called meningitis. This infection resides in the membranes (meninges) that cover the brain and the spinal cord. In most cases, meningitis is a viral (virus-based) infection that can be cured with proper treatment. The more dangerous form of meningitis is bacterial meningitis which can cause brain damage and death even when treatment is administered.
The symptoms of meningitis tend to appear quickly and include neck stiffness, neck pain, severe headache, nausea, vomiting, confusion, fever, and chills. Another clue to watch for with meningitis is extreme pain and stiffness when trying to touch the chin to the chest.
Meningitis is often seen in babies, children, teens, young adults, and seniors. If you or a member of your family shows the symptoms of meningitis, call 911 or go to the emergency room immediately. The earlier meningitis is treated, the better the outcome will be.
In Conclusion
A bone spur in the neck or any other part of the body does not typically constitute a medical emergency, but when it comes to your health, it's better to be safe than sorry. Contact your primary care physician for more information about diagnosing and treating neck and back pain.
