Bone pain or tenderness

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Skeleton

Overview

Treatment

Bone pain or tenderness

Definition:

Bone pain or tenderness involves aching or other discomfort in one or more bones.

Alternative Names:

Aches and pains in bones; Pain - bones

Considerations:

Bone pain is seen less commonly than joint pain and muscle pain. The source of bone pain may be obvious, as in a fracture following an accident, or more subtle, such as cancer that metastasizes (spreads) to the bone.

Whatever the source, bone pain should always be taken seriously. You should seek medical attention any time you experience bone pain.

Common Causes:

Bone pain can be caused by many injuries or conditions:

Trauma (injury)
Toddler fracture (a type of stress fracture peculiar to toddlers)
Overuse
Infection
Primary malignancy (cancer in the bones)
Metastatic malignancy (cancer that has spread to the bones)
Loss of mineralization (osteoporosis)
Disruption of blood supply (as in sickle cell anemia)
Leukemia
Osteomyelitis

Review Date: 2/23/2006
Reviewed By: Kevin B. Freedman, MD, MSCE, Sports Medicine, Orthopaedic Specialists, BrynMawr, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2004 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.