The human skeleton consists of more than two hundred bones, which are interconnected by muscles, ligaments and tendons. Of varying duration and severity, it restricts movement, affects the work of the intestines, heart, blood vessels, respiratory organs.
In the elderly, it leads to the progress of existing osteoporosis, the development of compression neuropathies. To quickly and persistently stop the pain syndrome, as well as to prevent the development and aggravation of concomitant pathologies need to see a doctor.
Nature of pain
Pain is often called the sixth sense in addition to the classic set of vision, hearing, etc. The basis is a triad of pathological factors that can act both alone and together.
A signal about disturbances in the body is formed upon irritation of pain receptors (nociceptors), pinching of nerve roots, and the action of deformed parts of the skeleton or bone growths (osteophytes) on the surrounding soft tissues.
A muscle spasm that protects the nerve from being squeezed. In fact, it increases pressure, and having spread to the vessels, it causes their narrowing, weakening of blood flow, the creation of a deficiency of oxygen, as well as nutrients, and a slowdown in the recovery process. Inflammation, as a protective reaction of the body, exacerbating destruction.
Causes of Bone Pain
The surgeon, rheumatologist, orthopedist, traumatologist or therapist of the highest qualification cannot make a diagnosis based on only one symptom in question.To find out the cause of the condition, you will need to carefully study the anamnesis data, conduct a rheumatic test, an instrumental examination, at least an x-ray, and laboratory tests. According to their results, we can conclude that the pain provocateur or form a direction for further search for the cause.
Injuries
For example, a fracture accompanied by severe pain, swelling, hematomas, limited joint mobility. Sometimes a fever, with an open form - bleeding. With an impressed fracture of the skull, the symptoms may be weaker. The main sign of injury is a kind of dent on the bone, which is palpated. Severe pain is accompanied by bruises and dislocations.
Discomfort in the musculoskeletal system may occur due to excessive physical labor or prolonged exercise. A gentle regimen for several days will alleviate the condition.
Infectious diseases
Periodic pain in the skeleton is accompanied by:
- osteomyelitis;
- bone tuberculosis;
- benign lymphoreticulosis;
- and other infections.
The reason is the mass reproduction of pathogens, acute and chronic poisoning by the toxins secreted by them.
Arthritis
The common name for inflammatory joint diseases. Distinguish its forms:
- Reactive. It is a complication after infection of the respiratory system, reproductive, excretory systems, as well as the intestines.
- Rheumatoid. It has an autoimmune nature, leading to damage to cartilage and bone tissue, joint deformation, and limitation of movements.
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative-dystrophic process, accompanied by pain when lying, sitting and walking. A joint can completely lose mobility.
Spondylitis is an inflammatory process of an infectious nature that affects the bones of the spine.
Bone tissue is updated worse with a sedentary lifestyle (inactivity). The pain is accompanied by deforming osteitis or Paget's disease. Serious abnormalities in the functioning of the skeleton occur with a congenital malformation of collagen protein synthesis.
Metabolic disorders
Failure in the metabolism leads to changes in the composition of the bones. With osteoporosis, they lose density, become fragile, often break. The condition is accompanied by increased fatigue, muscle weakness. Pain can be the result of osteomalacia due to a lack of vitamins, in particular D, as well as a number of minerals, such as calcium.
Neoplasms
The degeneration of bone tissue, fortunately, is a rare occurrence. It is accompanied by constant pain, enlarged lymph nodes, sweating. The nature and severity of unpleasant sensations depend on the size of the tumor, its location. Moreover, a person suffers from constant fatigue. Lack of appetite leads to weight loss.
Endocrine disorders
Increased production of T3 (triiodothyronine) or cortisol, as well as parathyroid hormones, provokes osteodystrophy. Long-term use of hormone-containing medicines has the same consequences.
Bone pain is a non-specific symptom, Only a doctor can correctly assess its danger. Self-interpretation does not end well, because not always, but in most cases, the symptom is associated with serious pathologies.
