What department should I go to for osteophyte?

Written by Li Jie
Orthopedics
Updated on September 07, 2024
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Strictly speaking, bone hyperplasia itself is not a disease diagnosis, but a radiological diagnosis. That is to say, if a patient goes for an X-ray, it might be discovered that there is bone hyperplasia in the cervical or lumbar spine. However, this bone hyperplasia may not necessarily cause symptoms; some patients may have very obvious bone hyperplasia but experience no pain or restricted movement. In such cases, medical consultation is not necessary. If the bone hyperplasia causes pain or symptoms like restricted joint movement, then these conditions might require medical attention. Generally, it is recommended that patients consult an orthopedist first, as orthopedics is a specialized field that can play a role in triaging and broadly determining the direction of treatment. Therefore, it is advised that patients with bone hyperplasia, who wish to seek medical advice, should see an orthopedist first.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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Does bone hyperplasia hurt?

Bone hyperplasia commonly arises due to degenerative changes in the elderly, especially at the sites where muscles and tendons attach, leading to abnormal bone growth. This can cause localized pain and restricted movement. For instance, bone hyperplasia around the knee joint, patella, and on one side of the tibial plateau in the knee joint can cause repeated friction against surrounding ligaments and tendons, leading to painful symptoms, as well as joint deformities. Thus, bone hyperplasia is associated with some painful symptoms.

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Written by Guan Yu Hua
Orthopedic Surgery
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How to treat osteophyte growth?

Bone hyperplasia mostly occurs in people over the age of 45, with symptoms becoming more apparent as age increases. It represents degenerative, hyperplastic, and aging changes in bone. Bone hyperplasia commonly affects major joints such as the cervical spine, lumbar spine, knee joint, heel, etc. Radiographic examinations are typically used to clearly diagnose the location of hyperplasia, which characteristically shows pointed changes on X-rays, and may stimulate surrounding nerves, blood vessels, and muscles to varying degrees. In cases like the knee joint, it is prone to synovitis, and symptoms become more noticeable when walking, climbing, or descending stairs. Upon diagnosis, treatment may involve anti-bone hyperplasia medications, and strict bed rest is recommended to avoid vigorous exercise. Application of local heat to the joints, and performing some traction treatments on the cervical or lumbar spine can help restore the normal physiological curvature of the spine and effectively alleviate symptoms.

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Written by Zhang Ying Peng
Orthopedics
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At what age does bone hyperplasia occur?

Bone hyperplasia occurs around the age of 30, after the body has completely stopped developing. Bone hyperplasia often occurs in joints and is caused by repetitive pulling of bones by tendons and ligaments, resulting in minor bone damage followed by a protective response. Generally, there are no obvious symptoms for bone hyperplasia and it does not require treatment. No non-surgical methods can eliminate bone hyperplasia; only in cases where the bone hyperplasia is particularly large and affects the joints or daily life, surgical methods to remove bone spurs may be considered.

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Written by Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
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What should I do about bone hyperplasia?

For the issue of how to deal with osteophyte formation, the incidence rate is very high clinically. The treatment method mainly depends on the severity of the patient's osteophyte formation. If the patient's osteophyte formation is very severe, such as deformities in the joints or nerve compression that affect the patient's normal work or life, it is necessary to actively perform surgical treatment. For example, joint replacement or discectomy, spinal canal enlargement and decompression may be performed to relieve pressure on the spinal nerves. Additionally, it is necessary to actively use nutritional and neurological medications to promote nerve recovery. For cases of mild osteophyte formation, conservative treatment options include oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and medications that combat osteophyte formation. (Please use medications under the guidance of a professional physician and do not self-medicate.)

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Written by Guan Jing Tao
Orthopedics
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What to eat for calcium supplementation for osteophyte growth

It is advisable to use calcium carbonate or calcium lactate containing vitamin D, as vitamin D can promote the absorption of calcium in the body. Additionally, it is appropriate to sunbathe moderately and engage in regular exercise, maintain a balanced diet, and consume foods rich in calcium such as fish, shrimp, eggs, and milk, all of which help supplement calcium and enhance its absorption. If bone hyperplasia is severe, even sufficient calcium supplementation cannot reverse the localized excess bone growth. If bone hyperplasia severely affects mobility, surgical treatment may be necessary.