Bone pain: Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment & Prevention

 

Bone pain should not be ignored. Certain causes, such as breaking a bone in a car accident, are simple to comprehend. However, many major causes of bone pain are less evident. If you experience pain that worsens or doesn't go away after a few days, see a doctor right away.

Also Read: 17 Calcium-Rich Foods

What is bone pain?

Any pain or discomfort in your bones or joints is referred to as bone pain. Numerous injuries and medical conditions may be the cause. It is sometimes called bone tenderness.

It will be simpler to feel or observe some bone pain causes than others. You will understand why your bone hurts if you have a fracture following trauma, such as a fall or car accident. However, the majority of reasons for bone pain are obscure. For instance, bone pain might result from certain cancers that begin in or spread to your bones. Bone pain can also result from injuries and traumas.

As soon as you experience bone discomfort, see a doctor. As quickly as possible, the reason for the discomfort should be identified. Never disregard new bone pain, regardless of the cause, particularly if it worsens or doesn't go away in a few days.

Causes:

Which factors are most frequently responsible for bone pain?

Bone pain can result from anything that harms your bones or the tissue that surrounds them. The following are the most typical reasons for bone pain:

• Injuries, including traumas

• Health conditions that cause bone weakness

• Benign tumors of the bones

• Certain cancers

Injuries and traumas that result in bone pain:

• Car accidents

• Injuries sustained in sports

• Tumbles

• Fractures of the bones

Disorders that result in bone pain:

• Osteoporosis

• Osteoarthritis

• Osteonecrosis, or avascular necrosis

• Osteomyelitis

• Vitamin D deficiency, including osteomalacia

• Osteitis deformans, or Paget's disease, affects the bones

• Osteopenia

• Rickets

Bone tumors that are benign (noncancerous) and cause pain:

• Aneurysmal bone cysts 

• Osteoblastomas

• Exostoses

• Osteochondromas

Types of cancer that hurt the bones:

• Carcinoma of the bones

• Osteosarcoma

• Leukemia

• Cancer that spreads to your bones is known as metastatic cancer.

Diagnosis:

To suggest a course of treatment, a physician must determine the underlying reason for the pain. Your discomfort can be significantly reduced or perhaps eliminated by treating the underlying cause.

In addition to asking about your medical history, your doctor will do a physical examination. Typical inquiries consist of:

• Where is the pain?

• When did the discomfort start to bother you?

• Is the discomfort increasing?

• Does the bone pain come with any additional symptoms?

To check for cancer symptoms or vitamin deficiencies, your doctor could prescribe blood tests. Additionally, your doctor may use blood tests to identify infections and diseases of the adrenal glands that might affect bone health.

The cause of the bone pain will be identified and treated by a medical professional. They will inform you of the necessary treatments and the duration of your recuperation.

Your doctor will use imaging tests, such as the following, to determine what is damaging your bone:

• X-ray

•  MRI

•  CT scan

• Ultrasound

• Multiple myeloma and other bone marrow abnormalities can be found by urine testing.

 To rule out specific disorders and determine the precise reason for your bone pain, your doctor may occasionally need to do several tests.

How is pain in the bones treated?

The doctor will begin addressing the underlying cause of the bone pain once they have identified it. They could suggest that you give the afflicted area as much rest as you can. If you have moderate to severe bone pain, they will probably prescribe you a painkiller.

Your doctor will start you on antibiotics if they detect an infection, but are unsure of the cause. Even if your symptoms subside in a few days, take the medication as prescribed. Inflammation reduction is another common use for corticosteroids.

Bone pain can be treated with the following options:

Painkillers

Although they don't treat the underlying disease, pain relievers are among the most often given medications to lessen bone discomfort. It is possible to utilize over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil). For moderate to severe pain, prescription medications like morphine or paracetamol may be utilized.

Antibiotics

Your doctor could recommend strong antibiotics to treat a bone infection in order to eradicate the illness-causing bacteria. These antibiotics could be vancomycin, clindamycin, or ciprofloxacin.

Supplements for nutrition

Vitamin D and calcium levels must be restored in people with osteoporosis. To address the mineral shortage, your physician will prescribe nutritional supplements. There are three different forms of supplements: liquid, pill, and chewable.

Treatments for cancer

Cancer-related bone pain is challenging to manage. To alleviate the pain, the physician must treat the malignancy. Chemotherapy (which can exacerbate bone pain), radiation therapy, and surgery are common cancer therapies. A type of medication called bisphosphonates helps patients with metastatic bone cancer avoid bone discomfort and damage. Additionally, doctors may prescribe opiate painkillers.


Surgery

To remove bone fragments that have died from infection, surgery might be necessary. Additionally, surgery can be necessary to remove cancerous tumors and realign fractured bones. In severe circumstances where joints can be replaced or swapped, reconstructive surgery may be used.

What are some ways to prevent bone pain?

It is easier to prevent bone pain when bones are strong and healthy. To keep your bones in the best possible condition, keep in mind:

• Maintain  a healthy exercise plan

• Get enough calcium and vitamin D

• Limit alcohol intake

• Avoid smoking

You can prevent injuries that cause bone pain in addition to enhancing bone health. Keep your floors clear of clutter and keep an eye out for loose rugs or dim lighting to help prevent falls. You should also be careful when going up or down the stairs. For sporting activities, especially contact sports like football or boxing, wear proper protective gear.

References:

• Merck Manual. Limb Pain (https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/cardiovascular-disorders/symptoms-of-cardiovascular-disorders/limb-pain?query=bone%20pain). Accessed 1/3/2023.

• Mantyh PW. Mechanisms that drive bone pain across the lifespan (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30357885/). Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2019 Jun;85(6):1103-1113. Accessed 1/3/2023.

• Mayo Clinic Staff. (2015, September 25).Osteomyelitis: Symptoms http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/osteomyelitis/basics/symptoms/con-20025518

• Metastatic bone disease. (2011, October).Retrieved fromhttp://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00093

• National Library of Medicine. Bone pain or tenderness (https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003180.htm). Accessed 1/3/2023