All About Bone Pain

Bone pain refers to tenderness, aching, or another discomfort in the bone. It is one of the most common symptoms of bone cancer. Various cancer includes multiple leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, etc can be caused due to bone pain. They can develop in the bone marrow. This disease mostly occurs in the long bones located at the upper arms or legs, but it can also affect other bones. When cancer cells arise in the bone itself, it is called primary bone cancer.

Here are the symptoms associated with bone cancer;

1. An initial stage of sentiment in the bone.

2. You are having constant pain or pain that comes and goes in the affected bones.

3. Heavy pain during the night or even at rest also.

Some potential causes of Bone Pain 

1. A type of cancer that starts in the bone marrow called Leukemia.

2. An infection in the bone called osteomyelitis.

3. Arthritis

4. A fracture after a small accident or some other traumatic injury.

5. Growing pains in teenagers as well as children.

6. Disturbance of blood supply in bones (similar to the occurrence in sickle cell anemia).

7. Deficiency of Vitamin D and calcium that causes bones to be fragile which is known as Osteoporosis.

8. A fracture caused by twisting injury that usually occurs in toddlers which is nothing but known as Toddlers’ fracture.

Bone marrow contains some stem cells which develop into various types of blood cells that include the followings;

1. White Blood Cells (WBC), it fights against infections.

2. Red Blood Cells (RBC) that carries carbon dioxide and oxygen throughout the body.

3. Platelets, help in blood clotting.

And the body produces these blood cells, when they need them, for example; when the old blood cells die. Bone marrow cancer develops when these blood cells replicate faster. There are many different types of bone marrow cancer found.

Multiple Myeloma

It is a type of cancer which occurs in the plasma cells that forms in the bone marrow. Plasma cells play a vital role in the immune system and make the antibodies that need to fight against bacteria.

Leukemia

Leukemia may be a variety of cancer of the white blood cells. This is the type of cancer which starts in other types of blood cell and then spread into the bone marrow. Acute leukemia is a fast-growing cancer. On the other hand, chronic leukemia grows slowly. There are some different types of leukemia which includes the followings;

1. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) 

It is the most common type of disease found in adults, or even in children.

2. Acute Lymphatic Leukemia (ALL) 

This type of disorder is mostly found in children than in adults.

3. Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) 

This disorder is very rare. It starts in the bone marrow and then spreads to the blood and other body tissues.

4. Chronic lymphatic leukemia (CLL) 

It is a slowly growing leukemia that creates in the lymphocytes. This is commonly found in adults. It is a type of white blood cells.

5. Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia (CMML) 

This type of leukemia grows in the cells of the bone marrow which produces other blood cells and it primarily affects adults.

Lymphoma

People suffering from lymphoma, cancer develops in the lymphocytes which circulate in the blood and lymphatic tissues after their production in the bone marrow. It can occur in many places of the body including bone marrow. These are of two types such as;

1. Hodgkin Lymphoma 

This is a type of cancer affects lymphocytes. It is different from other types of lymphoma because of a specific type of abnormal cell called a Reed-Sternberg cell.

2. Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma 

It develops in any part of the body and affects many different types of lymphocyte.

Diagnosis

Before suggesting any tests for these disorders, a doctor will ask the person about their medical history, the current issues or even the hereditary history of bone marrow cancer. A doctor may request the following tests to help the patients in diagnosing their bone marrow cancer.

1. Blood & Urine tests 

The blood urine tests can detect a unique protein that enters the circulation due to multiple myeloma. The blood test can also give information about electrolyte levels, blood cell counts, and kidney function.

2. Imaging tests 

A doctor may use some imaging tests for checking the bone issues. And these tests include PET scan, MRI scan, CT scan, X-ray, etc. The doctor may suggest doing one of these tests for the diagnosis.

3. Bone marrow aspiration 

Doctors use a specific needle to puncture one of the bones after using anesthesia and then withdraw a small sample of bone marrow. A doctor will examine the sample under a microscope to look for the cancerous cells.

Treatment

The treatment for bone marrow cancer depends on so many factors which include the extent and the type of cancer and also the age of the person. A cancer care team will meet the healthcare needs of the person.

After a diagnosis of bone marrow cancer, the doctor will discuss all types of available treatment options with the individual. The doctors recommend some treatments to remove bone cancer by preventing its spread or by minimizing the symptoms to increase the quality of life. The team will present with a treatment plan.