Bone pain or tenderness

Aches and pains in bones; Pain - bones

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

Images

I Would Like to Learn About:

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.

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)
Infected bone (osteomyelitis)
Injury (trauma)
Leukemia
Loss of mineralization (osteoporosis)
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 tests (such as CBC, blood differential)
Bone x-rays, including a bone scan
CT or MRI scan
Hormone level tests
Pituitary and adrenal gland function tests
Urine tests

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 relievers

If pain is related to thinning bones, you may need treatment for osteoporosis.

Related Information

Joint pain
Muscle aches
Broken bone
Metastasis

References

Jones RL. Malignant tumors of bone, sarcomas, and other soft tissue neoplasms. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 187.

Kim C, Kaar SG. Commonly encountered fractures in sports medicine. In: Miller MD, Thompson SR. eds. DeLee, Drez, & Miller's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 10.

Weber TJ. Osteoporosis. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 225.

Whyte MP, Dahir KM. Osteonecrosis, osteosclerosis/hyperostosis, and other disorders of bone. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 229.

Review Date: 4/1/2025

Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor Emeritus, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional 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. © 1997- A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.