[Chubbybird]

Difference between bone pain & muscle pain?

by Chubbybird on Fri Oct 11, 2013 8:49 pm

How can you tell the difference between bone pain and muscle pain

[Wayne K]

Re: Difference between bone pain & muscle pain?

by Wayne K on Sat Oct 12, 2013 11:29 am

For me it was location. In my ribs it was very localized at the rib, but while it was a broader pain in my femur it still seemed located in the center. Both, by the way, were constant. I've had muscle pulls all my life and while the pain was very similar, muscle problems were never constant. My muscle pain would fluctuate with movement and rest. My bone pain wasn't affected by activity.

[Nancy Shamanna]

Re: Difference between bone pain & muscle pain?

by Nancy Shamanna on Sat Oct 12, 2013 11:52 am

Hi Chubbybird, Hopefully you are getting tests done such as x-ray, MRI or PET that would tell your doctor whether or not this pain is related to lesions or fractures. Good luck with this!

I still get muscle pain quite often due to my fairly active life, but the pain I experienced with the myeloma was a constant type, that gradually increased in severity, especially in my low back and ribs. I didn't realize that it was from myeloma at the time tho. Now I know much more about that.

[darnold]

Re: Difference between bone pain & muscle pain?

by darnold on Tue Oct 15, 2013 4:56 pm

My experience is similar to Nancy's. My pain started in my ribs -- and I thought it was a pulled muscle at first. By the time I started on the road to learning I had myeloma, the pain was constant and bad enough that it disturbed my sleep. When it hurt to move the stick shift in my car, I knew I had to find out what was wrong.

I still get pain in my ribs, but it is all residual connective tissue pain, and occurs when I've been more physically active or lifting heavier things like a heavy bag of groceries. My annual bone scans show that my lesions are filled in, which is also how I know that is connective tissue, not my rib bones.

[KarenC]

Re: Difference between bone pain & muscle pain?

by KarenC on Thu Oct 17, 2013 11:27 am

I haven't had any bone pain yet, but I've had plenty of muscle pain from running. Muscle pain always goes away with rest. My doctor explained to me that bone pain "doesn't leave." So I'd just be aware of any pain that is constant and doesn't go away.