What causes persistent bone pain?

Bone pain often feels deep, aching, or difficult to pinpoint. A recent injury can affect bone or nearby tissues, while osteomyelitis is an infection that may cause local pain, warmth, swelling, or fever. Osteoporosis weakens bone and may only become painful after a fracture. A benign bone tumour can cause discomfort or weaken an area without being cancer.

Cancer can begin in bone, or cancer from another part of the body can spread there. Multiple myeloma may affect bones and can cause persistent aches. Pain that is new, steadily worsening, present at rest, or repeatedly disturbing sleep deserves a clinical assessment; these features do not by themselves identify the cause.

Arrange an appointment if pain continues, returns without a clear injury, limits movement, or is accompanied by swelling or a change in the shape of a limb. Note where the pain is, when it began, whether movement or rest changes it, and any fever, fatigue, weight change, or previous cancer diagnosis. A clinician may examine the area and decide whether imaging or blood tests are appropriate.

Do not keep exercising through severe or unexplained pain. Use only pain relief that is suitable for your health history, and mention kidney problems, stomach ulcers, blood thinners, or other medicines before choosing an anti-inflammatory drug.

Seek urgent medical care for severe pain after an injury, inability to bear weight, a suspected fracture, new weakness or numbness, loss of bladder or bowel control, fever with a hot swollen area, or pain with sudden shortness of breath. These symptoms can signal a fracture, infection, nerve pressure, or a clot and need prompt assessment.

Ask what causes are most relevant to your symptoms, whether you need imaging or blood tests, how to protect the painful area, and which pain medicines fit your other conditions. Ask how quickly to return if the pain changes or new symptoms appear.