Why do bones ache

Make an appointment with your doctor to find out why. There are also some other possible causes. Osteoporosis is a condition in which your bone mass is reduced below what is considered normal. Age, hormonal changes, and lack of physical activity are factors that contribute to decreasing bone density.

This can increase your likelihood of developing bone fractures and suffering bone pain. If you have bone pain for no obvious reason, or if you have previously been treated for cancer, you should consult with your physician. Your doctor will want to know your complete medical history, including previously diagnosed conditions, and the specifics of your bone pain.

These might include:. Depending on the specifics of your pain, as well as a thorough physical examination, additional testing may include:. Your doctor will determine your treatment based on your diagnosis. If you have any bone fractures or breaks, those must be addressed.

You will require a long-term treatment plan specific to that diagnosis if you are found to have any underlying conditions, such as osteoporosis or cancer. Complementary therapies for people with cancer include acupuncture, massage, and relaxation techniques. Physical therapy or regular exercise can help you to feel better and increase your strength and stamina, while also increasing your bone mass.

But make sure that before beginning an exercise regimen for bone pain, check with your doctor. Stretching, walking, swimming, bicycling, and light strength training can ease lower back pain. Osteoporosis causes your bones to lose density and become weak and brittle, increasing your chances of bone fractures.

Exercising several times a week can help build strength. Walking, treadmill, climbing stairs, dancing, swimming, and bicycling are recommended. A wide variety of disorders can cause arthritis, including inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis Rheumatoid Arthritis RA Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory arthritis in which joints, usually including those of the hands and feet, are inflamed, resulting in swelling, pain, and often destruction of joints Arthritis due to damage of joint Bacteria, viruses, or fungi may spread through the bloodstream The accumulations of crystals cause flare-ups Problems in the A rash of reddish purple bumps Osteonecrosis can be caused by an injury or can occur spontaneously.

Typical symptoms include pain, limited Arthritic pain can be new acute, for example, when caused by infections, injuries, or gout , or longstanding chronic, for example, when caused by rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis. Pain resulting from arthritis is typically worse when the joint is moved but usually is present even when the joint is not being moved. Sometimes pain originating in structures near the joint, such as ligaments, tendons, and bursae, seems to be coming from the joint.

Fibromyalgia Fibromyalgia Fibromyalgia is characterized by poor sleep, fatigue, mental cloudiness, and widespread aching and stiffness in soft tissues, including muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Poor sleep, stress, strains The pain is usually felt or causes tenderness in multiple locations and may be difficult to describe precisely but is usually not coming from the joints.

Affected people usually have other symptoms, such as fatigue and poor sleep. Some musculoskeletal disorders cause pain by compressing nerves. These conditions include the tunnel syndromes for example, carpal tunnel syndrome Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful compression pinching of the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel in the wrist. The cause of most cases of carpal tunnel syndrome is unknown Repetitive use of the elbow can cause cubital tunnel syndrome.

Symptoms include numbness Symptoms include burning The pain tends to radiate along the path supplied by the nerve and may be burning. It is usually accompanied by tingling, numbness, or both. Sometimes, pain that seems to be musculoskeletal is actually caused by a disorder in another organ system. For instance, shoulder pain may be caused by a disorder affecting the lungs, spleen, or gallbladder.

Back pain may be caused by a kidney stone Stones in the Urinary Tract Stones calculi are hard masses that form in the urinary tract and may cause pain, bleeding, or an infection or block of the flow of urine. Tiny stones may cause no symptoms, but larger stones Abdominal aortic aneurysms typically slowly expand and Arm pain may be caused by a heart attack Acute Coronary Syndromes Heart Attack; Myocardial Infarction; Unstable Angina Acute coronary syndromes result from a sudden blockage in a coronary artery.

This blockage causes unstable angina or heart attack myocardial infarction , depending on the location and amount Determining these factors gives important clues to what disorder is likely causing the pain. Doctors do a physical examination to help determine these factors and detect other important findings that could help determine the cause of the pain. Sometimes, the type of pain suggests where the pain has originated. For example, pain that worsens with movement suggests a musculoskeletal disorder.

Pain with muscle spasm suggests that pain is caused by a muscle disorder sometimes a chronic spinal cord injury. The site of swelling or the location of tenderness when the doctor feels palpates the area for example, a joint, ligament, or bursa or passively moves a joint often indicates the source of pain. However, often these characteristics of pain do not indicate its origin or cause. Thus, doctors usually base a specific diagnosis on the presence of other symptoms, physical examination findings, and often the results of laboratory tests and x-rays.

For example, Lyme disease often causes joint pain with swelling and a bull's eye-like rash, and blood tests show antibodies to the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. What are the other potential causes? Bone cancer symptoms. Share on Pinterest Fever and fatigue are less common symptoms of bone pain.

Treatment options for bone cancer. Treatment options for other causes. Latest news Could 'cupping' technique boost vaccine delivery? Scientists identify new cause of vascular injury in type 2 diabetes. Adolescent depression: Could school screening help? Related Coverage. Everything you need to know about bone bruise.

What are bone lesions? Types and treatment. Bones: All you need to know. What is a hairline fracture?