Can bones hurt? Bone diseases: the main causes and treatment. Vitamins for strengthening bones and joints

Can bones hurt, causing pain? These and other issues will be considered in the article.

Bones are about eighty percent composed of a compact substance that forms their dense outer layer. The rest of the space is filled with a spongy substance that creates an inner layer. The processes of bone metabolism occur faster in the spongy substance, so the bones, which are mainly composed of this substance, are considered the most fragile. Throughout the life of an individual, processes of destruction and formation occur in bone tissue. In an adult, tissue is updated annually by ten percent. Unfortunately, with age, the rate of destruction begins to prevail over recovery and, accordingly, the risk of developing pathologies increases.

Classification of diseases

Any bone disease belongs to a certain nosological group of diseases:

• Dystrophic - associated with malnutrition, for example, rickets.
• Inflammatory - osteomyelitis. The reason for its appearance is an infection of bone tissues and joints.
• Dysplastic - occur when bone forms are disturbed, as a result of which the structure of the skeleton changes.
• Traumatic - cracks, fractures. Despite the fact that the bones have increased strength, they can not withstand pressure and crack or break.

Pain provoking diseases

Why do bones hurt? There are pathologies that cause bone pain of various kinds. Let's consider some of them.

• Osteoarthritis - the pain is felt deep in the joint and intensifies under any loads, including minor ones. The disease affects not only the bone or joint, but also the muscles, synovial membrane, ligaments.
  
• Osteoarthrosis - the knee joints and bones of the lower leg, pelvis and thigh are affected.
• Arthritis - manifests itself as pain in the joints after awakening, which disappears after physical activity.
• Periostitis is an inflammatory process of an infectious or aseptic nature that occurs in the periosteum of the tibia or other bone.
• Paget's disease is a violation of the structure of the bones of the skeleton. The bones of the skull, collarbone, lower legs and humerus are mainly affected.
• Myeloma - occurs in the blood and provokes cancer of the bone. Often it is detected in elderly patients.

Bone pathology

Basically, adults are diagnosed with bone diseases associated with a lack of vitamin D in the body - osteomalacia and osteoporosis. The reasons for the low concentration of this vitamin are as follows:

• adverse environmental conditions for living and lack of ultraviolet rays;
• poor absorption of vitamin D by the body due to a malfunction in the intestines or kidneys.

The following common diseases are recognized:

• Curvature of the spine, which is manifested by scoliosis, kyphosis.
• Osteochondrosis is a degeneration in bone and cartilage tissues.

Causes

Why do bones hurt during pregnancy? During this period, the woman’s body undergoes changes, as a result of which the load on the skeleton and lower limbs increases significantly. Such phenomena provoke pain in the bones. If the nature of the pain is not associated with the development of the pathological process, then after delivery the pain goes away.

Among the main causes of bone pain, the following are noted:

• overweight;
• errors in nutrition;
• injuries of a different nature;
• inflammatory processes in the muscles;
• frequent hypothermia;
• hereditary factors;
• lack of physical activity;
• colds and infectious ailments;
• regular stress;
• lack of vitamins;
• long overloads of the physical plan;
• cardiac pathologies of an infectious nature.

Survey

Can bones hurt without severe symptoms? Many bone lesions occur without special signs, therefore, in their recognition, a carefully collected history, intensity of pain, localization of the pathological process, age of the individual, as well as his general condition are of great importance. When studying the history, it is established:

• Prescription of the disease.
• Was there an injury, since it is often it that is a provocateur of an abnormal process. When a bone is damaged, its functions are immediately impaired and a swelling appears. In the pathological process, these symptoms are detected after a certain period.
• Earlier diseases - tuberculosis, syphilis, osteomyelitis and others. With this information, it’s easier to establish the nature of bone disease.
• Heredity - it is important in the diagnosis of certain types of dysplasia.
• The nature and nature of pain. Pain is one of the earliest symptoms of bone damage. By nature and localization, it can be different. For example, a sudden, acute pain that occurs without any apparent reason indicates a possible pathological fracture. And prolonged pain of a bursting nature is characteristic of the tumor process. In addition, the pains are mostly reflected, that is, they arise in the wrong place where the focus of the pathology is located. For example, pain is concentrated in the knee joint when the hip joint is damaged.

The doctor examines the patient in a standing and lying position, comparing the symmetrical parts of the body. With the help of palpation, the doctor can easily identify abnormal conditions, if the bone is located close to the surface - the foot, the tibia. On examination, the prevalence of bone damage, its shape, compaction and swelling of soft tissues are also revealed. Examining the entire lower limb, the condition of the joints is determined in more detail. In addition, hardware research methods are used - MRI, CT, ultrasound, radiography.

Osteoporosis and its causes

Osteoporosis - the so-called skeleton disease, in which the structure is disturbed and bone strength is reduced. The bones become fragile and thin as a result of which quite often fractures occur. The disease begins imperceptibly, and in the initial stages there are no symptoms, and bone destruction processes are already taking place.

The female population is most susceptible to this disease and most often during the menopause, which is recognized as the main cause of the development of this disease. The ovaries do not synthesize estradiol after the cessation of the menstrual cycle, so there are problems with the retention of calcium in bone tissue. In men over the age of 65, the concentration of testosterone decreases, which, like estradiol, prevents the leaching of calcium from the bones. In addition, many other factors are known to influence the development of osteoporosis.

Causes of bone fragility that can be corrected independently:

• insufficient consumption of dairy products, fruits and vegetables;
• smoking;
• the use of a large number of alcohol-containing and coffee drinks;
• vitamin D deficiency;
• lack of exercise.

Factors that cannot be influenced, i.e. unremovable:

• fragile physique;
• Mongoloid or Caucasoid race;
• early menopause;
• amenorrhea;
• lack of childbirth;
• age;
• hereditary factor.

Pathological conditions that increase the risk of osteoporosis:

• Malignant tumors - leukemia, myeloma, lymphomas.
• Gastrointestinal - stomach surgery, celiac disease, cirrhosis.
• Endocrine - Itsenko-Cushing's disease, thyrotoxicosis, diabetes mellitus, adrenal insufficiency.
• Metabolic - amyloidosis, hemolytic anemia, chronic kidney disease, hemophilia, hemochromatosis, the introduction of nutrients into the body of an individual, bypassing the gastrointestinal tract.

Medicines that contribute to the development of osteoporosis:

• cytostatics;
• incorporating aluminum, lithium;
• anticonvulsants;
• analogues of gonadoliberin - "Goserelin", "Buserelin" and others;
• glucocorticoids;
• Heparin
• Levothyroxine.

Pain in the foot when walking

Often at the doctor’s appointment, individuals complain that they have pain in the foot bones when walking. There are several reasons for this phenomenon:

• injuries
• flat feet;
• heel spur;
• plantar fasciitis;
• Keller's disease
• osteoporosis;
• valgus deformity of the joint.

If there is discomfort and bone pain on the foot, you should contact a health care institution for the diagnosis and selection of therapy. In advanced cases, there is a high risk of lowering the quality of life and causing harm to health.

Bones on the legs below the knee hurt: causes and treatment

The following causes of pain are known:

• violation of the water-salt balance;
• sciatica, arthrosis, arthritis;
• pregnancy;
• sprain;
• muscle damage to the lower limb;
• injury, severe injury.

In addition, bone below the knee may be disturbing due to:

• overweight;
• cysts;
• infringement of nerves.

Thus, if the bone from the knee to the foot hurts, then this indicates damage or serious pathology.

Treatment is carried out both in outpatient and inpatient settings. In addition to medicines, patients are recommended physical therapy, physiotherapy, bathing, changing the diet and weight loss. The choice of treatment tactics depends on the severity of the damage. With intense pain, it is initially stopped, and then the inflammatory process is removed. In case of serious injuries, surgical intervention is indicated.

It is important to remember that the timely identification of the cause of the formation of pain in the bone below the knee and adequate treatment will help to cope with this problem quite quickly and effectively.

Fracture pain

Why does the leg hurt after a fracture? In a fracture, an individual experiences acute pain already at the time of injury. This phenomenon is associated with a lesion:

• nerve trunks;
• soft periosteal tissues;
• bones.

As a result of tissue destruction, substances that provoke the inflammatory process are released. Therefore, a failure occurs in the local blood flow, swelling increases, and the sensitivity of tissues increases several times. A person begins to feel pain not only during movement, but also with any touch to an injured limb. A bone after a fracture hurts due to damage along with it and receptors located in the outer bone membranes and responsible for the formation, transmission of nerve impulses.

With pathological fractures provoked by oncology, the nerve endings are destroyed, so the patient practically does not experience pain.

Various therapies

Methods for treating bones:

1. Pharmacotherapy - taking medications of different pharmacological groups.
2. Mud therapy - to improve blood circulation.
3. Physical education - swimming, walking, stretching exercises.
4. Physiotherapy - promotes the activation of metabolic processes in cartilage and bone tissues.
5. Dietary nutrition - involves the use of foods enriched with calcium and gelatin, limiting the intake of salt and sugar, as well as a complete rejection of alcohol-containing drinks.
6. Massage - strengthens muscles, improves tone.
7. Acupuncture - a positive effect is achieved by exposure to certain points.
8. Surgical intervention is an extreme measure, it is used if there is no result from other methods of treatment.

The use of medical devices such as a corset, knee pads, orthosis facilitate the patient's condition and lower the pain threshold. The choice of treatment method is determined by the doctor for each individual, taking into account contraindications.

Bone Strengtheners

Vitamins for strengthening bones and joints: water-soluble - B, C; fat-soluble - A, D, E, K. Brief description of vitamins:

• A or retinol - has antioxidant properties, takes part in phosphorus-calcium metabolism, increases bone tissue strength. It is used to prevent osteoporosis. Prevents joint deformation.
• K - helps to restore cartilage tissue in case of damage. Participates in bone cell growth.
• B - vitamins of this group restore the elasticity of articular surfaces, strengthen collagen fibers.
• D - increases the strength of the skeleton, takes part in the exchange of phosphorus and calcium, regulates the intake of phosphorus, promotes better absorption of calcium.
• C, or ascorbic acid, is the main element of connective tissue. Improves blood flow in the joint, prevents bone destruction, synthesizes collagen.
• E, or tocopherol, reduces inflammation, enhances regeneration.

Can bones hurt if the body lacks vitamins and minerals? The answer to this question is yes. To strengthen the joints and bones, they use complex nutritional supplements and preparations containing, in addition to vitamins, mineral and other substances:

• "Complies with calcium D3 forte" - increases bone density, compensates for the lack of vitamin D and calcium.
• “ArtriVit” - restores metabolic processes in the connective and bone tissue, and also relieves swelling and pain in the joints.
• “Ortromol Arthro Plus” - normalizes metabolic processes in cartilage tissue. Helps to restore motor activity in injuries.
• "Calcemin" - strengthens the articular apparatus, increases bone elasticity.
• “Komplevit Chondro” - restores damaged cartilaginous tissues and shells of joints, preserves the strength and integrity of bones.

"Calcemin Advance": instructions for use

The medicine is produced in the form of tablets coated with a special film coating. Doctors recommend this medication in the following conditions:

• If necessary, additional intake of the individual vitamin D, calcium and minerals.
• As a complex treatment and prevention: osteoporosis, deficiency of manganese, copper, magnesium, zinc, calcium, boron, vitamin D.

The active substances that make up the preparation "Calcemin Advance":

• Calcium salts. This microelement takes an active part in the formation of bone tissue, increases its density, reduces resorption, helps strengthen joints and bones, and also prevents the occurrence of pathologies of the musculoskeletal system. Calcium salts in the form of citrate ensure the assimilation of calcium by the individual’s body, regardless of the state of the gastrointestinal tract, do not cause a risk of kidney stones, since they do not increase the presence of calcium and oxalates in urine, reduce the risk of iron deficiency anemia, and improve the regulation of calcium homeostasis, positively affecting the concentration parathyroid hormone.
• Colecalciferol - regulates calcium-phosphorus metabolism, participates in the formation of the bone skeleton, preserves the structure of bones.
• Oxide of magnesium, copper and zinc. The latter has a beneficial effect on bone density. Zinc and magnesium are needed for the production of organic bone matrix. Magnesium is involved in the nucleation of bone and muscle tissue. Copper affects bone development by participating in the production of elastin and collagen.
• Manganese sulfate - takes part in the production of proteoglycans, which helps to improve bone quality.
• Sodium borate - reduces the risk of deficiency of colecalciferol, prevents the development of osteoporosis, improves calcium adsorption.

Of the auxiliary substances - microcrystalline cellulose, soy, stearic acid, etc.

Of the side effects noted:

• allergic and anaphylactic reactions;
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• nausea
• flatulence.

According to the instructions for use, Calcemin Advance is contraindicated in:

• intolerance to the components of the drug;
• allergies to soy or peanut butter;
• renal failure;
• active tuberculosis;
• urolithiasis;
• malignant neoplasms;
• hypercalcemia;
• children under the age of twelve;
• some other conditions.

During the period of expectation of the baby and with natural feeding, they take the drug strictly as prescribed by the doctor only after assessing the risk and benefit. The duration of administration, as well as the daily dose of the drug depends on the chosen treatment tactics and is determined individually for each patient.

Diet for bone diseases

For the prevention of diseases, such as ossification of joints, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and others, a special balanced diet is needed in older people. Its main goal is to improve metabolic processes in bone and cartilage tissues, as well as activation of the formation of articular fluid. Preference should be given to products that contain the following substances:

• Trace elements - copper, zinc, selenium, magnesium.
• Fatty acid.
• Vitamins - A, C, E.
• Acids - linolenic, oleic, linoleic.

However, it is important to remember that the use of products must comply with certain standards recommended by the doctor. Otherwise, errors in nutrition will aggravate the course of bone disease.

Wheat products should be limited, and completely excluded from the diet:

• smoked fish and meat;
• canned meat;
• cooked sausages and salami;
• fatty dairy products;
• animal fats other than fish oil.

Prevention

Recommendations, the implementation of which will reduce pain in the bones of the legs:

• Compulsory rest during the day at least two hours.
• Avoid overwork.
• Walk more.
• Refuse to run.
• When descending and climbing stairs, first lower or raise a healthy limb, then attach a sore leg to it.
• Wear soft and comfortable shoes.
• Give preference to an orthopedic mattress.
• Limit the intake of protein products, refuse mushrooms and follow a special diet.
• Do not lift more than five kilograms.

Conclusion

In the human body there are more than two hundred bones. Can they hurt? Pain is often associated with illness or injury. For successful treatment and prevention of complications, a timely visit to a doctor and an accurate diagnosis are necessary. Depending on the nature, severity and location of the bone pain, the doctor selects treatment. It is important to remember that the older the patient, the more difficult the disease can be treated.