The skeletal system is made up of bones, ligaments that attach bone to bone and tendons that attach muscle to bone. Sometimes bones can become fragile and break. Sometimes cancer forms in the bones and leads to excruciating bone pain. In some cases, the bones can even assume a deformed posture. It is important to know of the skeletal disorders and diseases that lead to these symptoms.
Rickets
The Mayo Clinic says that rickets is a disease that leads to bone softening in children. This may be due to severe or chronic vitamin D deficiency. Signs of rickets include having deformed bones. Sometimes the legs can be bowed or the spine curved. The breast bone can actually protrude from the chest. Other signs of rickets include frequent bone fractures, delayed growth, delayed tooth formation and muscle weakness. Rickets can also lead to tenderness and pain in the legs, pelvis or spine.
Treatment for rickets include taking vitamin D supplements. Sometimes braces may be used on the legs or surgery may be necessary to correct any bone deformities.
Ewing's Sarcoma
Ewing's sarcoma is a type of bone cancer that affects children, says MedlinePlus. Symptoms of this bone cancer include bone pain at the site of the tumor, a fever and swelling at the tumor site. The tumor usually develops in the bones of the arms, legs, chest or pelvis. Sometimes the tumor develops on the skull or trunk.
Typically, Ewing's sarcoma develops during puberty. In most cases, the tumor spreads to the lungs or other parts of the body.
Treatment for Ewing's sarcoma involves destroying the cancerous tumor within the bone. Chemotherapy medications such as vincristine, cyclophosphamide, etoposide and doxorubicin may be used to manage Ewing's sarcoma. Radiation is also used. Surgery is another option to remove the tumor from the bone.
Kyphosis
Kyphosis refers to a rounding shape of the back, commonly referred to as "hunchback," according to the Mayo Clinic. Specific kyphosis symptoms include back pain, a slouching posture, fatigue and spinal tenderness or stiffness. Sometimes no symptoms manifest if kyphosis is mild. Generally, kyphosis is due to such conditions as osteoporosis (brittle bone disease), infections such as tuberculosis and cancer or benign tumors of the spine.
Three types of kyphosis exist: postural, scheuermann and congenital. Postural kyphosis occurs during puberty and occurs more frequently in girls than boys, according to the Mayo Clinic. Having a poor posture or even slouching can cause ligaments to stretch, resulting in a deformed posture of the spine.
Scheurermann kyphosis occurs in children between the ages of ten and 15. This is more common in boys and results in an irregularly shaped vertebrae (back bone). Unfortunately, the cause is unknown, but it may be hereditary.
Congenital kyphosis refers to a spinal column abnormality that occurs during development in the womb. Sometimes the vertebrae can actually join together as the baby grows.
Exercises to strengthen the back muscles and pain reliever medications such as ibuprofen can be used to manage mild kyphosis. In severe cases, a back brace and surgery may be necessary.
