The bones provide structural support for the body and function to facilitate locomotion and to protect essential organs. Bones constantly grow and develop throughout life: specialized cells continually deposit new bone tissue, while other specialized cells reabsorb and break down old bone tissue. Bone disease can stem from dysfunction of either cell type, occur as a result of injury, or indicate another underlying disease or metabolic condition. In many cases, bone disease leads to unpleasant and harmful symptoms.
Bone Pain
A common symptom of many bone diseases is the development of bone pain, reports the University of Maryland Medical Center. The pain occurs around the affected bone and may present as a continuous and radiating ache around the affected area. In some cases, bone disease may lead to abnormal bony growths that may interfere with joint functioning, leading to joint pain that worsens during movement. The pain may grow in severity as the disease progresses. Bone pain that cannot be explained by obvious factors such as bone fracture may indicate a serious underlying disorder such as cancer, so patients experiencing bone pain should seek immediate medical attention.
Fractures
Another symptom of bone disease is bone fracture and injury. Many bone diseases involve the progressive weakening of the bones, reports Penn State University. Some diseases, such as osteoporosis, cause demineralization of the substance that gives bones their strength. Other diseases, such as cancer, directly eat away at bone tissue by stimulating excessive bone resorption. Metabolic disorders may prevent proper bone formation in the first place, leading to excessively weak bones. If these diseases are allowed to progress, the affected bones become weak to the point they can fracture easily. As a result, the patient becomes very prone to injury and may develop bone fractures after relatively minor trauma.
Hypercalcemia
Some types of bone disease lead to hypercalcemia, a condition that occurs when there is too much calcium in the blood. Bone tissue contains calcium, and the mineral helps make up a substance called hydroxiapatite that makes bones hard. In diseases leading to demineralization of bone, or the breakdown of bone tissue, calcium moves from bone tissue into the blood, where it can cause a number of side effects. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that patients with hypercalcemia may experience constipation, excessive thirst, muscle weakness, kidney stones and may lead to serious conditions, like a coma.
