How do you ease the pain of bone spurs?

If a person has painful bone spurs, most doctors recommend an over-the-counter pain reliever, according to Mayo Clinic. Bone spurs that are pressing on the nerve or limiting a person's range of motion may need surgical removal.

Ibuprofen, such as Advil, and naproxen, such as Aleve, are the most commonly recommended over-the-counter remedies for painful bone spurs, states Mayo Clinic. In order to confirm a diagnosis of bone spurs, a doctor may feel around the painful area to determine if she can feel the spur. If not, she may recommend an X-ray to determine if the bone has developed a spur. If a bone spur is present, a treatment plan is put into place.

Most people who have bone spurs also have osteoarthritis, explains Mayo Clinic. In this case, the bone spurs form after osteoarthritis breaks down cartilage in the bones. As the body attempts to repair this loss with more bone, the spurs begin to develop in the area that has become affected by arthritis. The body does this in an attempt to increase the surface area used for bearing the weight of the body. In many cases, people have bone spurs and do not know it until they receive an X-ray for another reason. These non-painful bone spurs do not require treatment.