Coping with Bone Pain: Tips for a Better Quality of Life

Pain in the bones has become quite common for people in today’s day and age. In simple terms, bone pain refers to an ache or discomfort that happens in one or more of our bones. The severity of pain can vary depending on different factors, including the underlying issue itself. Ignoring such pain may cause complications if left untreated. This is why it is essential why bone pain happens, and bone pain causes, symptoms, and treatments. 

This blog provides details about bone pain issues and gives you extensive information on how to deal with pain in the bones.

Bone Pain Symptoms: How to Know if You Have It?

The symptoms of bone pain vary depending on the cause of the ache. Listed below, you can find some of the most common symptoms of bone aches which remain the same with most issues and can be easily identified:

1. External swelling and pain in the affected area
2. A snapping or cracking noise that may have occurred during the time of injury
3. Cramps and fatigue
4. Muscle and tissue tenderness
5. The skin becomes tender to the touch in the affected area 

Bone Pain Reason: Why Does It Happen?

There can be numerous reasons why one may be suffering from bone aches. Listed below, you’ll find a list of some of the most probable causes of bone pain that might end up helping you identify your issues:

Osteoporosis

This disease directly affects your bones by weakening and thinning them (loss of bone density). This usually happens due to old age, but in some cases, even young people can get affected by it. This issue can also be caused by other varying medical conditions, medicines that you may have been prescribed, genetics, and/or hormonal changes. 

Bone Bruising

You can get bone bruises when your bones collide with something hard. This can happen if the person is either hit by something or falls from a great height. This kind of bruising can be associated with injuries to other structures too, such as an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear in a knee injury. It can cause tenderness in the injured area and might also result in some swelling and skin discoloration. 

Fractures/Bone injuries

Fractures refer to bone injuries or a break in the continuity of bone that are caused when one or more bones break due to external trauma of some kind. This can also happen due to weakened bones as well as continuous trauma to one specific area. Fractured bone pain causes a lot of discomfort and can hinder daily activities. It can cause stabbing and sharp pain, swelling, discolouration, and deformation as well.

Bone Cancer

Different kinds of bone cancer can affect people at varying stages of their lives. Some of the most common cancers that can cause major bone pain are as follows:

1. Osteosarcoma
2. Ewing’s sarcoma
3. Chondrosarcoma
4. Metastatic bone cancer
5. Multiple myeloma
6. Leukemia

Effective Ways For Bone Pain Treatment 

To treat bone pain, the cause needs to be determined by a medical practitioner. This can be done through assessment of the ache, such as where it is, when it started, the severity of it, and whether there were any injuries or other accompanying bone pain symptoms. The different medical methods that can be used to make a diagnosis are as follows:

1. X-rays
2. An MRI
3. A CT scan
4. Ultrasounds
5. DEXA scan or DXA scan (done to check the bone density of the person)
6. Urine test to detect any abnormalities in the bone marrow
7. Blood tests for vitamin and cancer markers

Once a doctor determines the underlying cause of the ache, they can start with the medical treatment. There are different treatment plans that the doctor may prescribe to ensure that the bone pain goes away as quickly as possible, some of which are listed below:

1. Pain Medication: Pain medications are the most common form of treatment for any kind of bone pain. While these help the patient deal with the pain itself, they are not entirely meant to target the underlying cause. 
2. Antibiotic Medicines: Medical practitioners can prescribe antibiotic medicines in cases of infections that cause you to have bone pain symptoms. These kinds of medications directly target the germs responsible for the infection.
3. Nutrition Supplements: If you suffer from conditions like osteoporosis, supplements are needed to restore calcium and vitamin D levels in the body. Supplements can be available for consumption in the form of pills, liquids, and chewable tablets. 
4. Cancer Treatment and Medication: Bone pain can oftentimes have extreme causes, such as cancer. In this case, your doctor will prescribe certain treatments that target the cancerous cells. Treatments like surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy are done to deal with such issues.
5. Surgeries (in rare cases, if required): This is usually done in extreme cases where your bones may be damaged beyond repair. This occurs mostly when infections become severe enough that the affected bone ends up dying. 

There are also certain measures that you can take to prevent yourself from suffering bone pain. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle by exercising, eating properly, and consuming enough calcium and vitamin D are all simple ways that can ensure good bone health. Not indulging in smoking and drinking is also a great way to avoid any bone-related issues.

Conclusion

Bone pain can have a lot of varying causes, and the overall treatment depends on the severity of the issue. While mild injuries can be treated at home with just some cold compression and bed rest, more severe cases that cause bone pain symptoms should be taken far more seriously. It is always best to consult a doctor if the pain is extreme and causes a lot of discomfort, especially when movement is done.