Bone Pain

What Is Bone Pain?

The most common cause of bone pain, of course, is injury. It may happen during athletic competition, exercise, repetitive use or overuse, or because of a fall or an accident. In these instances, diagnosis is generally simple, as is treatment.

But other types of bone pain are not as easy to identify. Cancer can originate in the bones (known as a primary malignancy) or it can spread to the bones from other parts of the body (a process known as metastasis). Pain and swelling or tenderness will affect in the cancerous area. Leukemia is a form of bone cancer because it can affect the marrow.

Pain in the bones can also result when your blood supply has been restricted or disrupted for some reason. A bone that has become infected will cause pain. See osteomyelitis, below. Bones may become painful when they become brittle because they're not getting enough of the minerals they need. See osteoporosis, below.

Common Types of Bone Pain

Back Pain and Back Injuries A wide range of conditions can affect bones in the spine and cause back pain.

Bone Bruise An area of tenderness resulting from an injury where there is no evidence of fracture. These can be quite painful and last for several weeks, but they usually heal on their own with no complications.

Bone Fracture Also known as a broken bone. A compound fracture occurs when the broken bone protrudes through the skin.

Osteoporosis This is a weakening of the bones because they're not getting enough of the minerals they need. The bones themselves don't hurt, but the condition often results in fractures and bruises because the bones become brittle. See osteoporosis bone pain.

Paget’s disease of bone Paget's disease of bone is a condition in which normal bone formation is altered. In a normal individual, "old" bone is recycled into new bone throughout life. Paget's disrupts this process.

Osteomyelitis This is a bone infection. Often the infection starts in another part of the body and spreads to a bone. It is typically caused by injury, diabetes, hemodialysis, poor blood supply, and IV drug abuse. See osteomyelitis.

Osteomalacia This condition is characterized by a lack of vitamin D or a problem with the body's ability to break down and use vitamin D. The bones become softer and are more prone to problems and injuries.