Even if it is painful, a bone spur does not always require surgery. If you catch a bone spur formation early, you may be able to stop it from progressing. Removing or limiting the stress that is causing the spur to form will slow or stop it's progression. This can be done by changing shoegear or using a custom orthotic.

If the spur is already painful, using pads to cushion or support the bone spur is helpful in eliminating the pain. A painful heel spur is dealt with with a gel heel cushion. A bone spur on top of the foot can be offloaded by using a different lacing pattern or a pad that keeps the pressure off of the spur. Bone spurs between the toes are often well managed using toe separators pads.

These conservative measures are useful in managing the pain from a bone spur. If however the pain remains, surgery to remove the bone spur may be your best option.