Pain in BonesPeople many times in their lives experience bone pain. Sometimes bone pain could be the result of some minor injury. On the other hand, if bone pain occurs without any obvious reasons, it can be due to some severe condition such as tumor or cancer that spreads. Bone pain is less commonly seen than joint pain and muscle pain. Whenever you experience pain affecting the bones, you should take it seriously. Seek medical help and ask your physician to determine the cause of bone pain you’re having.
Causes of Bone Pain
Bone pain can occur due to various medical conditions and other reasons, such as injuries. Possible causes of pain in bone can be following:Osteoporosis – thinning of bone tissue and loss of bone densityLeukemia – bone marrow diseaseSickle cell anemiaBone tumors – abnormal growth of cells within the bonePaget’s disease – abnormal bone destruction and regrowthOsteosarcoma – bone tumorRickets – disorder caused by lack of vitamin D, calcium or phosphateOsteomyelitis – acute or chronic bone infectionRadiotherapyFracturesYaws – bacterial diseaseLymphoma - tumor of lymphoid cellsLeptospirosis – bacterial infectionBone bruiseBone spurs – extra bone growth on the normal boneOsteomalacia – softening of the bones due to lack of vitamin DMyelofibrosis – bone marrow fibrosisHypercalcemia – elevated calcium level in the bloodNeuroblastoma – cancerous tumorAspergillosis – infectionHyperparathyroidismOsteonecrosis – blood supply loss in bonesCeliac disease – digestive conditionAdamantinoma – cancerous bone tumorCryptococcosis – fungal diseaseFibrous dysplasia – bone thinning and lesions in bonesGaucher disease – inherited metabolical disorderMultiple myeloma – cancer of plasma cells in bone marrowHeroin withdrawalVitamin A toxicityCongenital syphilis – life-threatening infection in infantsFanconi syndrome – disorder of tubule functionCushing syndrome – hormonal disorder due to high level of glucocorticoidBone cancerEosinophilic fasciitisRenal tubular acidosisOsteogenesisi imperfectaToddler fracture – type of stress fracture that occurs in toddlersCancer that spreads to the bones – metastatic malignacyDiagnosis
During physical exam, your doctor will inquire about:Location of the pain – is the pain located in extremities (forearms, hands, lower legs or feet), main part of the arm or leg or is it located in heels?General questions about the pain – when it firstly occurred, how long it lasts and is it worsening?
Other Present Symptoms
Diagnostic tests that may be performed include: blood tests, x-rays, bone scan, hormone level studies, pituitary and adrenal gland studies and urine test.
Treatment of the Bone Pain
Depending on the cause of pain, your doctor may prescribe: NSAID’s, calcitonin, hormones, antibiotics, pain killers, corticosteroids, bisphosphonates, or opioids. Sometimes, per cutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS) may help in treatment of bone pain.
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