Bone pain or tenderness

Alternative names:

aches and pains in bones; pain in the bones

Definition:

Pain or tenderness in one or more bones.

Considerations:

Bone pain is seen less commonly than joint pain and muscle pain but is a very significant sign. The source of bone pain may be obvious as in a fracture following and accident or more subtle as that seen in metastasis of a malignancy to bone. Whatever the source, bone pain should always be taken seriously and viewed as a sign that should be evaluated.

Bone pain may result from trauma, overuse, infection, primary malignancy, metastatic malignancy, loss of mineralization (osteoporosis), disruption of blood supply (as in sickle cell anemia), and other less common conditions.

Common causes:

• injury
• osteoporosis with a loss of normal bone density, mass, and strength (This causes increased vulnerability to fracture and is most common in women after menopause.)
• leukemia
• metastasis of a cancer to the bones
• osteomyelitis
• toddler fracture (a type of stress fracture peculiar to toddlers)
• sickle cell anemia

Note: There may be other causes of bone pain. This list is not all inclusive, and the causes are not presented in order of likelihood. The causes of this symptom can include unlikely diseases and medications. Furthermore, the causes may vary based on age and gender of the affected person, as well as on the specific characteristics of the symptom such as location, quality, time course, aggravating factors, relieving factors, and associated complaints. Use the Symptom Analysis option to explore the possible explanations for bone pain or tenderness, occurring alone or in combination with other problems.