I am really worried about how big these osteophytes can get, and how fast can they grow? In my cervical spine, my new MRI is showing moderate central canal narrowing due to osteophyte complex. These osteophytes exist at all my cercvical levels except my c1 and c2. I am very worried about them. Anyone else? I had an ACDF once of c5 c6, i think the surgeon got rid on an osteophyte then, but another grew back. Also what i didn't know, AND what no one told me is that after this surgery u will have more osteophytes than before the procedure. I guess they form as ur body's response to heal.

Martina

There are multiple reasons for osteophytic growth. In short, the spurs themselves do not hurt. They can overgrow into areas where they may cause encrouchment issues e.g., central canal, lateral canal, lateral recess, etc., and therapeutic or interventional procedures may be necessitated.

According to Resnick (radiologist), degenerative spurs are slow growing and may be visable after 2 or 3 years whereas spurs from traumatic episode may be evident in as little as 1 to 3 months post-trauma.

As a cautionary note, it is not uncommon for one to have demonstrable large spur formation(s) on diagnostic imaging and the individual has absolutely no symptoms. By age 50, 80% will have have degenerative changes (including spur formation) on xray. Every imaging finding must be correlated to ones complaints and physical exam findings to have any relevance at all!