Bone disease

Bone disease literally means the disease(s) that affect the bones.

Other names

A bone disease is also called an "osteopathy", although the term is less commonly used, partly because of the use of osteopathy in osteopathic medicine.

Bone and cartilage disorders

Glossary of some of the common bone and cartilage disorders

Ankylosing Spondylitis

It is arthritis that affects the spine, usually producing redness, heat, swelling, and pain in the spine where it joins the pelvis.

Arthritis

Arthritis is joint inflammation that can cause stiffness or pain. Learn more about the symptoms & treatments.

Autoimmune diseases

What are autoimmune diseases? These diseases occur when your immune cells attack your body by mistake. These diseases can affect almost any part of the body.

Autoinflammatory diseases

What are autoinflammatory diseases? They cause your immune cells to attack your body by mistake, and can cause fever, rash, joint swelling, and more.

Back pain

Back pain is one of the most common medical problems in the United States. It can range from a dull, constant ache to sudden, sharp pain that makes it hard to move.

Behçet’s disease

It is a chronic condition that causes mouth or genital sores, and inflammation in parts of the eye.

Bursitis

It is a common condition that causes swelling and pain around muscles and bones.

Epidermolysis bullosa

What is epidermolysis bullosa? It is a group of diseases causing painful blisters to form on the skin. These blisters can cause problems if they become infected.

Fibromyalgia

Doctors don't yet know the exact causes of Fibromyalgia. Find out more about this muscle-pain & fatigue causing chronic disorder.

Fibrous dysplasia

It happens when healthy bone is replaced with other types of tissue. Bones may become weak or oddly shaped, or they may even break.

Giant cell arteritis

It causes arteries in the scalp and neck to become red, hot, swollen, or painful. Arteries most affected are those in the temples.

Gout

It is a kind of arthritis that causes painful and stiff joints. Gout is caused by the build-up of crystals of uric acid in your joints.

Growth plate injuries

Injuries to the growth plate happen when a break or fracture develops near or at the end of a long bone.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS)

Hidradenitis suppurativa (also known as acne inversa) is a chronic, noncontagious, inflammatory condition characterized by pimple-like bumps or boils and tunnels or tracts on and under the skin.

Hip replacement surgery

Hip replacement surgery removes damaged or diseased parts of a hip joint and replaces them with new, artificial parts.

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)

Juvenile arthritis describes arthritis in children. Arthritis is caused by inflammation of the joints. Find out all you need to know about juvenile arthritis.

Marfan syndrome

It is a disorder that affects connective tissue, which supports many parts of your body. Marfan syndrome is often a genetic disease.

Osteoarthritis

What is osteoarthritis? It damages the slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones, causing bones to rub together, producing pain, swelling, and loss of motion.

Osteogenesis imperfecta

Osteogenesis imperfecta is a genetic disease, also called brittle bone disease, that causes bones to be weak and break easily.

Osteonecrosis

What is osteonecrosis? Osteonecrosis is a bone disease in which the bone begins to die and collapse. Find out the symptoms and goals of treatment.

Osteopetrosis

What is osteopetrosis? It is a rare disorder that causes bones to grow abnormally and become too dense. When this happens, bones can break easily.

Osteoporosis

What is osteoporosis? It is a disease in which your bones become weak and are more likely to break. There are no symptoms until a bone breaks.

Paget’s disease of bone

What is Paget’s disease? It is a disorder that causes bones to grow too large and weaken. You can have Paget’s disease in any bones in your body.

Polymyalgia Rheumatica

It causes muscle pain and stiffness in the neck, shoulder, and hip, and can be accompanied by fever, weakness, and weight loss.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a skin disease that causes red, scaly skin that may feel painful, swollen, or hot. Learn more about the types and what causes psoriasis.

Psoriatic arthritis

It can occur in people who have psoriasis (scaly red and white patches). It affects the joints and areas where tissues attach to bone.

Raynaud’s phenomenon

What is Raynaud’s phenomenon? It is a disease that affects blood vessels. It causes your body to not send enough blood to the hands and feet for a period of time.

Reactive arthritis

What is reactive arthritis? It is caused by an infection and results in joint pain and swelling. You may also have red, swollen eyes and a swollen urinary tract.

Rheumatoid arthritis

What is rheumatoid arthritis? It is a disease that affects multiple joints, resulting in pain, swelling, and stiffness. Tiredness and fever may also be present.

Scleroderma

Scleroderma causes patches of tight, hard skin, but can also harm your blood vessels and organs. Learn the causes and treatments of this skin disease.

Scoliosis in Children and Teens

It is a disorder causing a sideways curve of the spine. Curves are often S- or C-shaped. In most people, there is no known cause for this curve.

Sjögren’s syndrome

It is a disease that affects the glands that make moisture. It most often causes dryness in the mouth and eyes.

Spinal stenosis

What is spinal stenosis? It is the narrowing of the spine. This narrowing puts pressure on the spinal cord and nerves and can cause pain.

Sports injuries

Sports injuries are injuries that happen when playing sports or exercising. There are two kinds of sports injuries: acute and chronic.

Sprains and Strains

A sprain is an injury to a ligament (tissue that connects bones). A strain is an injury to a muscle or tendon (cords of tissue connecting muscle to bone).

Systemic lupus erythematosus (Lupus)

Lupus is a disease where the body's defense system attacks healthy cells and tissues, causing damage to many parts of the body. Learn more about this disease.

Tendinitis

It is swelling and pain in a joint usually caused by repeated injuries to a tendon, the part of the joint that connects muscles to bones.