If bone pain that worsens at night and does not go away with painkillers lasts a long time, it may be a sign of a bone tumor.
Oku.AzAccording to the “Haber Global” report, Turkish doctor specializing in orthopedics and traumatology Ömer Yonga spoke about this and made important statements.
According to him, although bone tumors are not common, they can appear in different forms at all ages, including childhood, adolescence, youth and old age. Remembering that one of the most important points is early diagnosis, the specialist pointed out that due to the latent progression of the disease and the similarity of the symptoms with various problems, sometimes the diagnosis can be made late. Therefore, it is important to know the causes and symptoms of bone tumors.
Omer Yonga said the incidence rate of bone and soft tissue tumors varies depending on age.
“Bone tumors are abnormal cell growths that occur in bone tissue. These tumors are caused by uncontrolled proliferation of cells and can be benign or malignant. The treatment of these tumors is carried out by orthopedic oncology, a branch of orthopedics. In general, bone tumors are studied under four main headings: benign, malignant, metastatic bone tumors, and tumor-like lesions. While benign bone tumors are most commonly seen in childhood, malignant bone tumors, especially metastatic ones, are often found after the age of 40,” he said.
According to the doctor, the most common symptoms in patients with a bone tumor are pain, swelling and pathological fractures, and the pain may be different depending on the type of tumor.
“The pain in benign tumors is milder and responds more quickly to analgesics. Furthermore, it is in a way that cannot be clearly localized. In malignant tumors, the pain is sharper and deeper. These pains, especially from the night, they may not respond to pain relievers. Another symptom seen in patients is localized swelling.
In addition, sometimes, even if the patient has no complaints, for example, a tumor can be accidentally detected during an X-ray examination performed for another reason, such as a sprained ankle. That is why it is very important for patients to pay attention to their complaints and consult a specialist without wasting time,” said Omer Yonga.
According to him, it is possible to obtain a positive response in orthopedic oncology thanks to the technologies and methods that are being developed in current medicine, but patients must also be vigilant.
“Although soft tissue tumors usually have visible symptoms, bone tumors do not usually show visible symptoms in the early stages. For this reason, patients should not forget that pain in the arms and legs is not always due to damage to the musculoskeletal system. “We must remember that, especially if there is prolonged pain that increases in intensity at night and does not respond to painkillers, this may be a sign of a bone tumor, so it is necessary to consult the doctor without wasting time” , the specialist added.
