Essentially, bone spurs are bony KNOBS that form on the sides or edges of your bones. They are your body's sometimes NOT-so-effective way of trying to heal itself from prolonged pressure or rubbing on a specific area. Everything from wearing uncomfortable heels to degenerative joint conditions like osteoarthritis can trigger their growth. Although they can form on any part of your body, they are most common in your knees, shoulders, spine, hips, hands and feet. On their own, these boney growths cause LITTLE discomfort. It can be YEARS before you even notice you have one--if you notice at all. It's when they turn up in areas where they rub against nerves, tissue and neighboring bones that they become painful-which is why you almost ALWAYS feel them when they develop in a JOINT. If bone spurs become too painful to treat with regular over-the-counter painkillers or if they limit your ability to MOVE your joint, they MAY need to be removed. Arthroscopy, a type of minimally invasive surgery, is typically used. This is when your doctor makes small incisions to go into a joint and cut away the spur. Once the spur is gone, your joint should feel as good as new. To learn more about treatment for joint pain, check out the rest of the videos in this series.