10 Common Disorders That Affect the Bones

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Common Bones and Joints Disorders

Bones give you shape, help you move, and support your body. These living tissues rebuild continually. Commonly found Bone disease and joint disorders are- fractures, arthritis, osteomalacia, osteoporosis, rickets, Paget’s disease.

Arthritis: the swelling of Joints

Arthritis is a condition that causes the swelling of one or more joints. The main symptoms are joint pain and stiffness. The signs are-Pain, Stiffness, Swelling, and Redness, and Decreased range of motion. The symptoms generally worsen with age, Pain.

Types

  1. Osteoarthritis: causes cartilage to break down
  2. Reactive arthritis
  3. In Rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system attacks the joints, beginning with the lining of joints.
  4. Psoriatic arthritis
  5. Septic arthritis
  6. Ankylosing spondylitis
  7. Thumb arthritis
  8. Gout is a condition where too much uric acid in the blood causes uric acid crystals. 
  9. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Treatments vary depending on the type. The arthritis treatments aim to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life.

What is Bone cancer? 

Sometimes, cancer cells spread from their original site to a bone.

Bone metastasis occurs when cancer cells break away from the original cancer site and spread to the bones. Here they start multiplying and causes metastases. Nearly all types of cancer can spread to the bones. The common area of metastases is the spine, pelvis, and thigh. Bone cancer can cause pain and broken bones. 

The signs and symptoms include- bone or joint pain, Broken bones, High levels of calcium in the blood, and weakness in the legs or arms. 

Any cancer, or prominently Breast cancer, Thyroid cancer, Lung cancer, Lymphoma, Kidney cancer, Multiple myeloma, and Prostate cancer, can spread to bones. Read about Osteosarcoma: the most common type of bone cancer.

Hip fracture

A hip fracture is a severe hip injury and can be life-threatening. The risk rises with age, as bones tend to weaken with age. There are other causes like poor vision, multiple medications, and balance problems, making older people more likely to fall.

A hip fracture requires surgery or surgical replacement, followed by physical therapy for better recovery. Older people can prevent fractures by maintaining bone density and avoiding falls.

Hip fractures increase with age, preexisting osteoporosis, nutritional deficiencies. Hip fractures occur in women about three times more often than they do in men. The signs and symptoms include severe pain in the hip or groin area, outward turning of the leg, inability to get up from a fall or to walk, bruise, and swelling in and around your hip area. Read about bone disease Ankle Fracture: the most common type of fracture.

Hip fracture complications can include:

  • Further loss of muscle mass.
  • Increasing your risk of falls and injuries, UTIs.
  • Blood clots in your legs.
  • Pneumonia.
  • Sometimes death.

You can prevent hip fractures by avoiding falls and maintaining healthy bones. It can be done with calcium and vitamin supplements, by strengthening bones, and lifestyle modifications.  1

Osteomyelitis 

Osteomyelitis is an infection in a bone. Bone injury sometimes exposes bones to pathogens (Staphylococcus bacteria), causing bone infections. At times, the infection spreads to bones from nearby tissues.

Other preexisting health conditions, like diabetes or chronic health problems, can cause osteomyelitis. The infected bone tissues are surgically removed, and patients are given antibiotics to heal from osteomyelitis. 

Osteomyelitis is caused by staphylococcus bacteria infection, injuries, or surgeries, making pathogens enter the bloodstream and infecting bone tissues. The signs and symptoms include pain in the infection area, Fever, Swelling over the infection site, and Fatigue. It may lead to the death of bone tissues, septic arthritis, skin cancer, and impaired growth in children. Treat injuries, wounds, infections to prevent osteomyelitis.

Achilles tendinitis

Achilles tendon is a tissue band that connects calf muscles to your heel bone. An overuse injury of the Achilles tendon causes Achilles tendinitis.

It commonly occurs in runners, middle-aged people who play sports.

Most of the cases can be treated with moderately simple, at-home care under your doctor’s supervision. Severe cases can lead to tendon ruptures that may require surgical repair.

Achilles tendinitis begins as a mild ache above the heel after walking or running activity. It is caused by repetitive or intense strain on the Achilles tendon. The tendon structure weakens with age, making it susceptible to injury. You may even feel severe pain. Sometimes there is stiffness or tenderness in the morning, which usually improves with mild activity. Avoid strenuous activity, stretch daily, and strengthen your calf muscles. Increase your activity level gradually. Choose your shoes carefully. Try to cross-train with high-impact and low-impact exercises. 

Read about What are the symptoms of strained tendon?

Osteomalacia

Osteomalacia means a marked softening of your bones caused by vitamin D deficiency. The softened bones can lead to bowing during growth or fractures in older adults.

Osteomalacia treatment includes vitamin D and calcium supplements, which help to strengthen bones.

The human body requires minerals, calcium, and phosphate in the bone-maturing process to build strong bones. These nutritional deficiencies might develop Osteomalacia. Sometimes, the body cannot absorb minerals, like in celiac disease or kidney or liver disorders. Certain drugs used in the treatment of seizures affect vitamin D absorption. 

People suffering from Osteomalacia are more likely to break bones, particularly bones of the spine, ribs, and legs. You can develop pain and muscle weakness in Osteomalacia. The aching pain affects the lower back legs, hips, pelvis, and ribs. 

You can prevent Osteomalacia with the help of a diet rich in nutrition and vitamin D, nutritional supplements, and exposure to sun rays in the early morning. Here is All you need to know about Osteomalacia.

Osteoporosis 

Bone tissues constantly break and are replaced with new ones. Osteoporosis is a degenerative disorder where the loss of old bone tissues is surpassed with newly formed tissues. So, it causes bones to become weak and brittle. Osteoporosis, a bone disease causes fractures in the wrist, hip, or spine commonly. The bones are so brittle that even a mild fall or stress like coughing can cause a fracture. 

Osteoporosis signs and symptoms are back pain, a stopped posture, and easy breaking of bones. 

Osteoporosis affects all adults, but women are at higher risk, especially post-menopause. A healthy diet, weight-bearing exercise, medicines, and nutritional supplements can reduce the risk of bone loss. Read more about osteoporosis –symptoms, causes, and management.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Pressure on the median nerve causes carpal tunnel syndrome. Repetitive hand motions can stimulate the median nerve and contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome. Even a little pressure on the median nerve causes tingling, numbness, and weakness in the hand and arm. 

A Carpal tunnel is a passageway in your wrist. The median nerve runs through it. This nerve provides nerve signals in and around your thumb. Anything that irritates the median nerve can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome. The potential risk factors are:

  • Wrist fractures.
  • Inflammatory or nerve-damaging conditions.
  • Workplace factors causing excessive pressure on the median nerve. 

You can prevent the condition with modifications like taking short and frequent breaks from work, reducing pressure on the median nerve and avoiding too much bending of the wrist. Treatment includes relieving the tingling sensation and restoring wrist function. Read about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome- The Compression of Median Nerve(Opens in a new browser tab)

Rickets

Rickets is generally observed in children, a condition showing the softening and weakening of bones. The primary underlying cause is prolonged vitamin D deficiency. Besides, inherited problems are also associated with rickets.

Vitamin D is helpful in the absorption of calcium and phosphorus from dietary intake. Vitamin D deficiency makes it challenging to maintain calcium and phosphorus levels in bones, which can cause rickets.

Rickets can cause some skeletal deformities which require corrective surgery. Medications are helpful in children having low levels of phosphorus. 

Signs and symptoms of rickets can include:

  • Delayed motor skills
  • Muscle weakness
  • Delayed growth
  • Pain in the spine, pelvis, and legs
  • Skeletal deformities can be found, such as Bowed legs, thickened wrists, and ankles.
  • Dietary modifications can prevent rickets, like consuming foods rich in vitamin D, intakes of fatty fish, and egg yolks. Exposure to sunlight also is a source of vitamin D. 

Bone disease: Paget’s disease

Fragile and misshapen bones distinguish Paget’s disease. When bone interferes with the body’s normal recycling process, new bone tissue gradually replaces old bone tissue. The rapid remodeling produces less organized and weaker bone than normal bone, leading to bone pain, deformities, and fractures. 

Age and heredity are the significant factors contributing to Paget’s disease. The condition can worsen further, leading to pinched nerves and broken bones. This bone disease might be widespread or might affect only one or two areas of your body. The complications include osteoarthritis, neurological problems, fractures, and deformities. Read more about Paget’s disease- symptoms, causes, and management.

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