BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuBone pain or tendernessAches and pains in bones; Pain - bonesBone pain or tenderness is aching or other discomfort in one or more bones. Considerations Bone pain is less common than joint pain and muscle pain. The source of bone pain may be clear, such as from a fracture following an accident. Other causes, such as cancer that spreads (metastasizes) to the bone, may be less obvious.Joint painJoint pain can affect one or more joints.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Muscle painMuscle aches and pains are common and can involve more than one muscle. Muscle pain also can involve ligaments, tendons, and fascia. Fascias are th...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article FractureIf more pressure is put on a bone than it can stand, it will split or break. A break of any size is called a fracture. If the broken bone punctures...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article MetastasizesMetastasis is the movement or spreading of cancer cells from one organ or tissue to another. Cancer cells usually spread through the blood or the ly...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes Bone pain can occur with injuries or conditions such as:Cancer in the bones (primary malignancy) Cancer that has spread to the bones (metastatic malignancy) Disruption of blood supply (as in sickle cell anemia) Sickle cell anemiaSickle cell disease is a disorder passed down through families. The red blood cells that are normally shaped like a disk take on a sickle or crescen...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Infected bone (osteomyelitis) OsteomyelitisOsteomyelitis is a bone infection. It is mainly caused by bacteria or other germs.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Injury (trauma) Leukemia Loss of mineralization (osteoporosis) OsteoporosisOsteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break (fracture).ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Overuse Toddler fracture (a type of stress fracture that occurs in toddlers) Home Care See your health care provider if you have bone pain and do not know why it is occurring. When to Contact a Medical Professional Take any bone pain or tenderness very seriously. Contact your provider if you have any unexplained bone pain. What to Expect at Your Office Visit Your provider will ask you about your medical history and do a physical exam.Some questions that may be asked include:Where is the pain located? How long have you had pain and when did it start? Is the pain getting worse? Do you have any other symptoms?You may have the following tests:Blood studies (such as CBC, blood differential) CBCA complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Blood differentialThe blood differential test measures the percentage of each type of white blood cell (WBC) that you have in your blood. It also reveals if there are...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Bone x-rays, including a bone scan Bone x-raysA bone x-ray is an imaging test to look at the bones.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article CT or MRI scan CTA computed tomography (CT) scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create pictures of cross-sections of the body. Related tests include:Abdomin...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article MRIA magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the body. It does not us...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hormone level studies Hormone levelBlood or urine tests can determine the levels of various hormones in the body. This includes reproductive hormones, thyroid hormones, adrenal hormon...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Pituitary and adrenal gland function studies Urine studies Depending on the cause of the pain, your provider may prescribe:Antibiotics Anti-inflammatory medicines Hormones Laxatives (if you develop constipation during prolonged bed rest) Pain relieversPain relieversOver-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers can help relieve pain or lower a fever. Over-the-counter means you can buy these medicines without a prescript...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article If pain is related to thinning bones, you may need treatment for osteoporosis.OsteoporosisOsteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break (fracture).ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Open ReferencesReferencesJones RL. Malignant tumors of bone, sarcomas, and other soft tissue neoplasms. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 192.Kim C, Kaar SG. Commonly encountered fractures in sports medicine. In: Miller MD, Thompson SR. eds. DeLee and Drez's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 10.Weber TJ. Osteoporosis. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 230.Whyte MP. Osteonecrosis, osteosclerosis/hyperostosis, and other disorders of bone. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 234.AllVideoImagesTogSkeleton - illustration The skeleton consists of groups of bones which protect and move the body.SkeletonillustrationSkeleton - illustration The skeleton consists of groups of bones which protect and move the body.SkeletonillustrationA Closer Look Back pain and sciatica - InDepth(In-Depth)Low back pain(Alt. Medicine)Bone cancer(Alt. Medicine)Osteoarthritis(Alt. Medicine)Osteomyelitis(Alt. Medicine)Self Care Foot sprain - aftercareHamstring strain - aftercareTailbone trauma - aftercare Tests for Bone pain or tenderness Bone lesion biopsyRelated Information Joint pain(Symptoms)Muscle aches(Symptoms)Broken bone(Injury)Metastasis(Special Topic) Review Date: 4/27/2023 Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. 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Bone pain or tendernessAches and pains in bones; Pain - bonesBone pain or tenderness is aching or other discomfort in one or more bones. Considerations Bone pain is less common than joint pain and muscle pain. The source of bone pain may be clear, such as from a fracture following an accident. Other causes, such as cancer that spreads (metastasizes) to the bone, may be less obvious.Joint painJoint pain can affect one or more joints.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Muscle painMuscle aches and pains are common and can involve more than one muscle. Muscle pain also can involve ligaments, tendons, and fascia. Fascias are th...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article FractureIf more pressure is put on a bone than it can stand, it will split or break. A break of any size is called a fracture. If the broken bone punctures...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article MetastasizesMetastasis is the movement or spreading of cancer cells from one organ or tissue to another. Cancer cells usually spread through the blood or the ly...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes Bone pain can occur with injuries or conditions such as:Cancer in the bones (primary malignancy) Cancer that has spread to the bones (metastatic malignancy) Disruption of blood supply (as in sickle cell anemia) Sickle cell anemiaSickle cell disease is a disorder passed down through families. The red blood cells that are normally shaped like a disk take on a sickle or crescen...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Infected bone (osteomyelitis) OsteomyelitisOsteomyelitis is a bone infection. It is mainly caused by bacteria or other germs.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Injury (trauma) Leukemia Loss of mineralization (osteoporosis) OsteoporosisOsteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break (fracture).ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Overuse Toddler fracture (a type of stress fracture that occurs in toddlers) Home Care See your health care provider if you have bone pain and do not know why it is occurring. When to Contact a Medical Professional Take any bone pain or tenderness very seriously. Contact your provider if you have any unexplained bone pain. What to Expect at Your Office Visit Your provider will ask you about your medical history and do a physical exam.Some questions that may be asked include:Where is the pain located? How long have you had pain and when did it start? Is the pain getting worse? Do you have any other symptoms?You may have the following tests:Blood studies (such as CBC, blood differential) CBCA complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Blood differentialThe blood differential test measures the percentage of each type of white blood cell (WBC) that you have in your blood. It also reveals if there are...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Bone x-rays, including a bone scan Bone x-raysA bone x-ray is an imaging test to look at the bones.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article CT or MRI scan CTA computed tomography (CT) scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create pictures of cross-sections of the body. Related tests include:Abdomin...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article MRIA magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the body. It does not us...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hormone level studies Hormone levelBlood or urine tests can determine the levels of various hormones in the body. This includes reproductive hormones, thyroid hormones, adrenal hormon...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Pituitary and adrenal gland function studies Urine studies Depending on the cause of the pain, your provider may prescribe:Antibiotics Anti-inflammatory medicines Hormones Laxatives (if you develop constipation during prolonged bed rest) Pain relieversPain relieversOver-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers can help relieve pain or lower a fever. Over-the-counter means you can buy these medicines without a prescript...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article If pain is related to thinning bones, you may need treatment for osteoporosis.OsteoporosisOsteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break (fracture).ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Open ReferencesReferencesJones RL. Malignant tumors of bone, sarcomas, and other soft tissue neoplasms. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 192.Kim C, Kaar SG. Commonly encountered fractures in sports medicine. In: Miller MD, Thompson SR. eds. DeLee and Drez's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 10.Weber TJ. Osteoporosis. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 230.Whyte MP. Osteonecrosis, osteosclerosis/hyperostosis, and other disorders of bone. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 234.