All You Need to Know About Bone Pain

Contents:

Medical Video: Solutions for Bone Pain

Bone pain is pain that occurs in the bone. This can affect one or more of your bones. Bone pain is different from muscle pain. In muscle pain, pain can be reduced by not moving or maintaining muscle position. Bone pain does not disappear even when you are silent.

Bone pain is usually associated with other conditions such as diseases that affect bone structure or function, or diseases that change hormones that encourage bone growth.

What causes bone pain?

There are several causes for bone pain. Bone pain can occur after an injury such as a car accident or falling. This is the most common cause for bone pain. Broken or fractured due to injury or trauma causes bone pain.

Other causes of bone pain are lack of minerals. Your bones need vitamin D, calcium and phosphorus to be healthy. Lack of minerals, both from poor diet or diseases that reduce mineral absorption can cause bone pain. Bone pain due to lack of calcium and vitamin D is commonly referred to as osteoporosis.

The most serious type of bone pain is bone cancer originating from bone or cancer that has spread to the bone (metastatic bone cancer). Cancer can damage bone structure, make bones weak and cause severe bone pain.

Leukemia is a cancer of the bone marrow. Bone marrow is a network of sponges located in each bone and they maintain the regeneration of our bones. People with leukemia often experience bone pain, especially in the legs.

Infection of the bone is a serious condition called osteomyelitis. Bone infection kills bone cells, which cause bone pain.

Bone pain is usually caused by a serious condition. You should see a doctor if:

  • You experience unexplained bone pain and don't improve in a few days.
  • Bone pain is accompanied by weight loss, decreased appetite, or fatigue.
  • Bone pain due to injury.

How to diagnose bone pain?

Your doctor will find the cause of your bone pain. Treating the causes of bone pain often reduces pain dramatically. You need to explain pain to your doctor. Some of the questions asked are:

  • Where do you feel pain?
  • When does the pain occur?
  • Is the pain getting worse?
  • Do you have other symptoms that accompany bone pain?

To get the best diagnosis, your doctor may ask for several tests including:

  • Blood tests (like CBC, blood differential)
  • Bone X-ray, bone scan
  • CT or MRI scan
  • Hormone level test
  • Pituitary and adrenal gland function tests
  • Urine test.

How to treat bone pain?

The doctor may decide on treatment for the underlying condition. Treating these conditions will make the pain stop. You may be given medication to relieve pain such as:

  • Antibiotics
  • Anti-inflammatory drug
  • Hormone
  • Laxatives (if you have constipation during the recovery period)
  • Pain reliever
  • If pain is related to bone thinning, you may need treatment for osteoporosis.

If you lack enough vitamin D and calcium, you might be given a supplement. Patients with serious bone pain, such as bone cancer, may need radiation therapy, and chemotherapy surgery so that the condition is better. Infected bones may need to be removed.

All You Need to Know About Bone Pain
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