Imaging and blood tests can help a healthcare provider to determine a diagnosis.
Treatment for bone pain will depend on the cause.
Some people may need immediate intervention, for example, to deal with complications ofsickle cell disease.
Verywell / Alexandra Gordon
It explains how various conditions that cause bone pain are treated.
Treatment will depend on the problem, but prevention is key with the disease.
It includes:
Osteoporosis is a common cause of bone fractures, while bone bruises often are caused byosteoarthritis.
It is often associated with another injury, like an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear.
Always wear a bicycle helmet when riding, and use seatbelts while riding in a vehicle.
In some cases, the area involving the fracture will appear deformed.
Diagnosis is typically straightforward.
The fracture may be visible, or the injury is identified with imaging.
Treatment will depend on the location and severity of the fracture.
Afevermay also be present.
However, some people experience chronic osteomyelitis that’s not due to bacteria.
This bone pain primarily affects children and is treated with other medications.
Antibiotics, given through the vein (intravenous), are necessary to treat a bone infection.
In some cases, surgical techniques are used to remove dead bone and tissue.
In addition to pain, limited use of the affected area is common.
It can include anti-inflammatory medication and surgical options.
Osteomalacia
Osteomalaciarefers to decreased bone mineralization and subsequent bone softening.
This bone condition most commonly occurs as a result ofvitamin D deficiency.
Improvement in bone pain can be significant, occurring within weeks.
Paget’s Disease
Paget’s diseaseis a chronic bone condition that affects older adults.
This leads to the formation of excess bone that is brittle or abnormally shaped.
Bone pain is the most common symptom.
However, many people with Paget’s disease have no symptoms.
The condition is often found by X-ray for another purpose.
In some cases, surgery may be needed to treat Paget’s.
Bone pain from a VOC can be intense and felt in the legs, arms, and back.
Triggers are variable and often unknown, but may include:
Sickle cell anemia requires life-long treatment.
Primary Bone Cancer
Bone pain is the most common symptom of bone cancer.
The pain usually comes and goes at first and then becomes constant.
Other tests include imaging and abiopsy, commonly used to diagnose cancer.
Both osteosarcoma andEwing’s sarcomaare more common in children and adolescents.
Chondrosarcoma is most common in adults older than 40 years.
Cancer that spreads to the bone weakens it, causing pain and making the bone more prone to breaking.
To diagnose the condition, your healthcare provider will order a blood and urine protein electrophoresis.
These tests look for the abnormal protein produced by plasma cells called amonoclonal (M) protein.
Your healthcare provider also will order imaging and evaluate a bone marrow aspiration andbiopsy.
Treatment may include chemotherapy, steroid medications, and/or stem cell transplants.
Leukemia
Withleukemia, abnormal blood cells grow uncontrollably within a person’s bone marrow.
It is most common inacute lymphoblastic leukemia, but may also occur inacute myeloid leukemiaor myelodysplastic syndrome.
In other cases, though, the bone pain in your legs may be more difficult to diagnose.
It also may involve a serious illness such as cancer or complications of sickle cell disease.
Contact your healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment of your bone pain.
And seek immediate care for a sudden injury or if symptoms are severe.
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