Difference between Bone Pain and Muscle Pain

Bone pain refers to tenderness (pain on touching) or discomfort in one or more body bones. It also includes joint pain. Bone pain is often debilitating and present deeper in the body. Bone pain is sharp, so the patient can easily localise or pinpoint it. 
Bone pain occurs due to underlying bone disease and should be taken seriously. Bone pain could be a sign of several diseases. Bone pain causes include:

1. Osteoporosis
   Osteoporosis is a condition where bone density is reduced. The reduced bone density makes the bones brittle and more prone to fractures. In patients with osteoporosis, even a mild fall may result in a fracture. 
2. Osteoarthritis
   Osteoarthritis refers to the inflammation of joints. It's a painful condition wherein the joint cartilage undergoes wear and tear and slowly degenerates, causing pain and stiffness. 
3. Bone infection 
   Bone infection, commonly referred to as osteomyelitis, can cause bone pain. It can occur in any age group but is commonly seen in children. 
4. Injury
   Bone injuries can occur due to trauma, accidents or while playing sports, resulting in bone pain. Bone pain may also occur in case of stress fractures. A stress fracture is a small crack in the bone that's often seen in athletes as they overuse their bodies physically.
5. Pregnancy 
   During pregnancy, the ligaments that hold the pelvic bones together become more flexible due to the effects of hormones. This flexibility is essential for delivery. However, during this process, the bones become more mobile and may cause discomfort in the pelvic girdle, which causes pain in the pelvic bone.
6. Bone Cancer 
   Bone cancers cause dull pain in the bones. These cancers could be of the bone tissue (osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma etc.) or the bone marrow (Hodgkin's lymphoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma). Some cancers can also spread from other body parts to the bone.
7. Sickle Cell Disease
   The bone marrow produces red blood cells in the body. In sickle cell disease, the shape of the red blood cells is altered, leading to a lack of oxygen delivery in all the organs and tissues, including bone. This lack of oxygen to the bone tissue can cause bone pain.

Muscle pain, also known as myalgias, refers to muscle sprain and spasm in one or more body muscles. Muscle pain is perceived differently in each individual. Some may feel soreness, while others may feel random sharp pain. It may be localised or diffusely present throughout the body.
Muscle pain can be short-term or chronic. It is short-term, like post-workout soreness. On the other hand, severe autoimmune or neurological conditions can be chronic. Some common muscle pain causes are as follows: 

1. Autoimmune diseases
   Autoimmune diseases causing muscle pain include Lupus, multiple sclerosis, and inflammatory myopathies. In these diseases, the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's muscle cells, thus damaging them.
2. Infections
   Many bacterial and viral infections can cause muscle pain. These can be viral colds or the flu. It could also be seen in malaria, Lyme disease, etc.
3. Injury
   Muscle sprain and injury are commonly seen in those who do heavy exercises and work out. The pain from injury originates from specific muscles and starts during or immediately after the activity, thus, helping to identify the trigger. 
4. Neuromuscular disorders
   Neuromuscular disorders like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, and muscular dystrophy are commonly associated with muscle pain and weakness.
5. Medications 
   Some medications may cause inflammation of the muscle cells and trigger pain. These medicines include chemotherapy medications, medications for high blood pressure, etc.
6. Other causes
   Other muscle pain causes include cancers such as sarcomas and leukaemia, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, hypothyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.

The most crucial difference between bone pain and muscle pain is that bone pain is easy to locate or pinpoint, whereas muscle pain isn't. Muscle pain is more generalised and hard to identify. Another difference between bone pain and muscle pain is that bone pain is deep and sharp and lasts longer. Muscle pain is short-lived and subsides within a day or two. It doesn't mean that muscle pain cannot be chronic. Chronic muscle pain can be seen in conditions like chronic myofascial pain. However, it's less common. Hence it's best to get one's symptoms checked by a qualified healthcare professional.Bone pain can be due to cancerous conditions like sarcomas and lymphomas. Muscle pain causes are not that serious. One should take bone pain seriously. Knowing the various symptoms and causes is necessary to notice the difference between bone pain and muscle pain. Below is a comparison table that will help one identify bone and muscle pain

Differences Based on Causes

Bone Pain	Muscle Pain
Osteoporosis Injury Pregnancy Bone cancer Bone Infection	Autoimmune diseases like Lupus and multiple sclerosis Injury Neuromuscular disorders like Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Medications like chemotherapeutic drugs (anti-cancer drugs) Infections

Differences Based on Symptoms

Bone Pain	Muscle Pain
Back pain Abnormal posture (stooped) A gradual decrease in height Pain Swelling Tissue damage or apparent breaks and deformities  Pain in the pubic bone  stiff and painful pelvic joints Increased tendency of bone fracture Lump or mass Tingling or numbness sensations  Redness Swelling A rise in the temperature at the site of infection Inability to move Nausea Fever Loss of appetite	Myalgia (muscle pain) Muscle weakness Muscle spasms  Fever Fatigue Shortness of breath Headache  Sore muscles Strained muscles Muscle weakness Muscle pain Paralysis Shortness of breath Repeated chest infections Myalgia Fatigue Nausea Vomiting Anaemia Constipation Diarrhoea Weight loss Pain all over the body Fever Nausea Swollen lymph nodes

The difference between bone pain and muscle pain lies in their onset, pattern, aggravating and relieving factors, duration of pain and its progression. These factors are asked and covered by the doctor while taking a history from the patient. These history-taking points differentiate bone and muscle pain. These pointers help the doctor to diagnose the cause of pain properly. Once the diagnosis is made, the doctor selects the patient's right bone and muscle pain medicine. Prescription of bone and muscle pain medicine varies from disease to disease. The doctor prescribes the bone and muscle pain medicine according to the diagnosis and bone and muscle pain causes.

Differences Based on Diagnosis

Bone Pain

Muscle Pain

X-rays help diagnose conditions giving rise to bone pain MRIs and CT scans to visualise the injuries, lesions or tumours of the bone Urine analysis can be done to detect bone marrow disorders.

Blood tests to check electrolyte levels and infections  X-rays to rule out other associated conditions  MRI or CT scans to detect any muscle injury Urine analysis helps diagnose myoglobin levels Electromyography (it measures the electrical activity in nerves and muscles) Muscle biopsy or spinal fluid test to check for neuromuscular disorders  Neurological examination and nerve conduction studies to detect neuromuscular disorders.

Differences Based on Treatment

Bone Pain

Muscle Pain

More potent painkillers can be prescribed in case of moderate to severe pain. Massage or acupuncture are not helpful Calcium and Vitamin D supplements for those with osteoporosis Surgery to remove deformed bone tissue

Pain relief from ice packs and heat packs, over-the-counter painkillers are effective Antibiotics for viral or bacterial infections causing muscle pain Massage or acupuncture Calcium and vitamin D supplements are not helpful in muscle pain Surgery is not prescribed for conditions causing muscle pain Symptomatic management for other symptoms like physical therapy, medications to relieve extra saliva and other associated symptoms

Bone versus muscle pain can be hard to differentiate. To summarise, some key points to remember while differentiating between bone and muscle pain are:

1. Bone pain feels sharper, deeper, and more disabling than muscle pain. It lasts for a longer duration compared to muscle pain. Bone pain arises due to a serious pathology which should be corrected on time.
2. Muscle pain is more common than bone pain. One may experience muscle pain after an intense workout or post-viral infection. Muscle pain is more generalised and resolves quickly within a day or two.

With this article, we hope you understand the difference between bone pain and muscle pain. We also hope you can correctly identify the causes of bone and muscle pain.

Feel free to contact us if you are still confused or have consistent muscle or bone pain. At HexaHealth, we ensure that your conditions are diagnosed and treated promptly. We're the largest network of hospitals and doctors in the country, and we're just one tap away! So get in touch with us right now!