213. Can Bone Spurs be caused by excessive bandaging...?

Having done some research on the internet it appears that the boney protrusion on the inside of Spices leg may just be a 'bone spur'. However, to have appeared six weeks after the incident took place (i first noticed it on the 10th november the day before the last bandage was applied) and there being no signs of lameness at the time i am somewhat doubtful that it has been caused by the incident itself...Having read on about possible causes i just found the following:

Causes

Cartilage compression
Excessive compression can cause, over time, the cartilage between the upper and lower surfaces of bones to become compressed and eroded. The joint spaces then become smaller, and new bone growth may occur in the area.

Right now i actually feel physically sick...could it be that all the bandaging the vet has been applying to Spices leg over the last 2-3 weeks is actually the cause of this...?


The other disturbing thing is that the protrusion actually looked and felt more obvious after the last bandage came off which incidentally was the 10th bandage and Spices leg has been literally bandaged almost 24/7 for the last 16 days solid.

Reading on...the news gets worse...Bony changes of the lower hock joint are irreversible. It is possible, however, to manage the problem and thereby slow the progression of the bone spavin, ease the pain, and control the lameness. Surgery is an option for horses that do not respond to conventional treatments.

Just when i thought my faith in vets was at an all time low it seems to have dropped even further...If there's an actual risk that excessive bandaging can cause bone spurs why on earth of vets still applying bandages in this fashion?

Am i just being paranoid...? I don't think so...the fact that the vet dismissed the boney protrusion saying that it simply looked more obvious due to muscle wastage is a joke...even someone who'd never seen a horse could see this wasn't due to muscle wastage....when comparing both legs (see below)




I sincerely hope that i've got this all wrong and that i have to come on here and completely eat my words because in truth i would rather be wrong about this and risk sounding like a complete paranoid fool that doesn't know anything than possibly be right.

But reading on i am doubtful this will be the case...

Bone spurs also form in the feet in response to tight ligaments, to activities such as dancing and running that put stress on the feet, and to pressure from being overweight or from poorly fitting shoes. For example, the long ligament on the bottom of the foot (plantar fascia) can become stressed or tight and pull on the heel, causing the ligament to become inflamed (plantar fasciitis. As the bone tries to mend itself, a bone spur can form on the bottom of the heel (known as a "heel spur"). Pressure at the back of the heel from frequently wearing shoes that are too tight can cause a bone spur on the back of the heel. This is sometimes called a "pump bump" because it is often seen in women who wear high heels.

I realise this is an example of how bone spurs can be caused in humans but given that the conditions are the same surely the causes are too.