Bone spurs generally form as the body’s response to stabilize a weak structure. Oftentimes bone spurs are benign and cause no problem after the underlying instability is treated. The best way to treat the underlying stability is with Prolotherapy to stimulate ligament repair. For the person with bone spurs that are limiting motion, simple movement and/or an additional injection treatment may be needed. Prolotherapy gives pain relief. With the pain relief the person is able to move the joint more. With more joint motion, the cycle of pain, immobility and motion loss is stopped while pain relief and increased range of motion is experienced. Sometimes to speed up the process, dilute hydrochloric acid can be injected around the bone spur to potentially decrease its size. As the bone spur decreases more mobility is achieved and healing is reached faster. Remember, motion is crucial to true healing. Listed below are fluoroscopy figures that show bone spurs that were treated with Prolotherapy and/or hydrochloric acid.
The figures above show hip osteoarthritis with bone spurs on the head of the femur and around the acetabulum. Dr. Hauser gave Prolotherapy under fluoroscopy along with a dilute hydrochloric acid injection around the bone spurs.
This last figure shows a bone spur on the base of the big toe that was injected with hydrochloric acid.
This therapy, referred to as “injection spurectomy,” decreases bone spur size via injection and is considered an experimental procedure. Success has been documented in the experience of Dr. Hauser, having treated hundreds of patients with bone spurs. The vast majority of these patients have become pain free and enjoyed greater range of motion with Prolotherapy and/or hydrochloric acid injections.
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