Nice to hear from you. How have you been feeling other than the fall? I assume you are back to work....?

If you understood what the OS said, I have no idea what he is talking about. Perhaps he is talking about vertebrae touching? Bone spurs or osteophytes are little bony growths that come about as a part of a degenerative process.

Read all about them here:

http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/back-pain/bone-spurs-osteophytes-...

OK, I found a diagram and now I think I understand. The bone spurs that I was thinking of grow into the foramina and they can be shaved off. But when there is instability in the back,and degeneration in a disc, sometimes the vertebrae will grow bone spurs in the body's attempt to increase stability. (I am sending the diagram in a PM). I think this is what your OS was probably referring to. Is it at the same disc where you had the two surgeries?

Actually, I have been doing great up until the fall. The fall reignited some of the old pains but the medrol pack is helping. I am crossing my fingers that once the steroids wears off that I will be feeling better.

My new OS said that I will probably have to deal with intermittent chronic back pain for the rest of my life.

Do you have a new OS since your last surgery?

I don't know much about the different kinds of bone spurs, but I do know that they can be shaved off. My surgeon took several of mine off. My bone spurs were a big source of pain for me (one of several) and I am glad he was able to get most of them (some were in a bad spot and he couldn't get to them). Gwennie's answer was much more informative than mine, just thought I would give my two cents worth.
Take care and have a good day,
Sinerely,
Rachel