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Cancer can cause joint and muscle pain, and this can occur for a variety of reasons. Firstly, cancerous cells can weaken bones, leading to fractures and pain. Additionally, if a tumour is located near a joint, it can cause difficulty in movement and pain during normal activities. Cancer treatments can also cause joint and muscle pain as a side effect. For example, chemotherapy drugs can lead to numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, while some breast cancer treatments can cause bone and joint pain. Cancer pain can be acute, caused by damage from injury or treatment, or chronic, due to nerve changes from cancer pressing on nerves or chemicals produced by a tumour.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cancer pain types | Acute, Chronic |
| Causes of cancer pain | Tumour pressing on bones, nerves, or other organs, Cancer treatment, Chemotherapy drugs, Radiotherapy, Nerve changes due to cancer treatment |
| Cancer pain description | Aching, dull, throbbing, Sharp, cramping |
| Cancer types causing joint and muscle pain | Bone cancer, Breast cancer |
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What You'll Learn
Tumours pressing on joints
Bone cancer symptoms vary from person to person, but pain is typically the first sign. Cancerous cells can weaken the bone, sometimes resulting in a fracture. If a fracture occurs in an area of bone that has been sore, it may indicate bone cancer. Additionally, cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy can cause pain. Chemotherapy may induce numbness, tingling, and burning sensations, while radiotherapy can cause skin redness and irritation.
Two conditions related to tumours pressing on joints are synovial chondromatosis and tenosynovial giant cell tumours. These tumours occur in the synovium (lining) of joints and can cause severe joint damage. They usually affect a single joint, most often the knee or hip, leading to pain and fluid buildup. Tenosynovial giant cell tumours cause the lining of the joint to swell and grow, harming the surrounding cartilage and bone. This process can result in bloody fluid in the joint and increase the risk of arthritis. Treatment for these conditions typically involves surgery, and in severe cases, medication may be prescribed to reduce tumour growth.
It is important to consult a doctor to determine the type and cause of pain, as different types of pain require different treatments. Doctors can use imaging techniques such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs to diagnose joint tumours and develop a personalised treatment plan.
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Cancer treatments causing joint pain
Cancer treatments can cause joint pain, and this can occur in people with bone cancer or breast cancer.
For bone cancer, if the cancer is close to a joint, it may be difficult to move the joint, and the patient may walk with a limp. Cancerous cells can weaken the bone, sometimes resulting in a fracture. A tumour located around the knee, for example, may interfere with the ability to bend, flex, or put pressure on that joint, making walking or moving difficult.
For breast cancer, joint pain is a common side effect of aromatase inhibitors, which are hormonal therapy drugs used to treat hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. About 25% to 50% of women who take these drugs experience joint pain or muscle pain. Joint symptoms can affect the fingers, wrists, elbows, shoulders, knees, and ankles. The joint pain caused by aromatase inhibitors will subside once the medication is stopped. It is not known exactly why aromatase inhibitors cause joint pain, and there is currently no way to predict who will experience it.
To manage joint pain caused by cancer treatments, patients may need to try multiple approaches. Doctors may recommend over-the-counter non-narcotic analgesics such as ibuprofen and naproxen, or topical pain relievers that can be applied directly to the affected area. Certain antidepressants, including duloxetine (Cymbalta), have been shown to ease joint pain caused by aromatase inhibitors. Exercise, such as walking and acupuncture, can also help reduce pain.
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Bone cancer causing muscle pain
Cancer is indeed a potential cause of joint and muscle pain. The first noticeable sign of bone cancer is often pain, which can make it difficult to move around. This pain is usually accompanied by unexpected weight loss and fatigue. The presence of a lump or swelling may also be indicative of bone cancer.
Bone cancer symptoms vary from person to person, but the location of the cancer is a significant factor in the severity of the symptoms. For example, if the cancer is near a joint, it can cause difficulty in movement and walking. Cancerous cells weaken the bone, and this can result in fractures, particularly in areas of the bone that were previously sore.
Bone and muscle physiology are closely interrelated, and cancer disrupts this relationship. Myokines secreted by skeletal muscle cells impact the surrounding bone, and bone releases growth factors that affect muscle function. This disruption can cause muscle weakness, fatigue, and cachexia (a condition causing extreme weight loss and muscle wasting).
In addition, metastasis of tumour cells to the bone causes an imbalance between osteoclasts and osteoblasts, as well as disruption to various signalling pathways. This leads to increased bone resorption, which alters muscle function and contributes to muscle dysfunction. Therapeutic interventions, such as TGFβ-1 receptor kinase inhibitors and bisphosphonates, aim to reduce bone resorption and improve muscle function.
It is important to note that other conditions can also cause similar symptoms, so it is always advisable to consult a medical professional for a proper diagnosis.
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Cancer spreading to bones
Bone metastases can cause a variety of symptoms, including pain, broken bones, and other serious problems. Bone pain is often the first symptom of cancer that has spread to the bone, and it may be worse at night or improve with movement. If the cancer is near a joint, it can cause difficulty moving and walking. Cancer that spreads to the bones of the spine can press on the spinal cord, leading to nerve damage and potentially paralysis if not treated promptly.
Another complication of bone metastases is hypercalcemia, which occurs when calcium from the bones is released into the bloodstream, resulting in high blood calcium levels. This can lead to muscle weakness, fatigue, and kidney and heart problems. Dehydration, confusion, nausea, abdominal pain, and constipation are also possible symptoms of hypercalcemia.
Treatment for bone metastases aims to control the growth of cancer and manage symptoms. Bisphosphonates pamidronate (Aredia) and zoledronic acid (Zometa) are commonly used drugs administered intravenously or subcutaneously. Radiation therapy may also be used to prevent further bone damage. Early detection and treatment of bone metastases are crucial to prevent potential complications.
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Chronic cancer pain
While having cancer does not always mean that you will experience pain, cancer pain can be acute or chronic. Acute pain is usually severe, comes on quickly, and lasts a short time. It is often a sign that the body has been injured and tends to disappear as the injury heals. On the other hand, chronic pain can be due to changes in the nerves caused by cancer pressing on them or by chemicals produced by a tumour. It can also be caused by nerve changes due to cancer treatment. This type of pain can come on quickly or slowly and can range from mild to severe. It continues long after the injury or treatment is over and can be present all the time.
Cancer pain can greatly affect one's quality of life, making it hard to do everyday things such as bathing, shopping, cooking, sleeping, and eating. It is common to struggle with mental health when dealing with cancer pain, and it is important to seek support. Cancer pain can be treated using morphine-type drugs called opioids, non-opioids, steroids, or antidepressants.
Bone cancer, for example, typically presents with pain as the first symptom. If the cancer is located near a joint, it may cause difficulty in movement. Cancerous cells can also weaken the bone, sometimes resulting in a fracture.
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Frequently asked questions
Cancer can spread into the bone and cause pain by damaging bone tissue. Tumours can also press on nerves, bones, or other organs and cause pain. Bone and joint pain are very common in people with breast cancer.
Cancer pain can be acute or chronic. Acute pain is due to damage caused by an injury and tends to last a short time. Chronic pain can be due to changes in the nerves caused by cancer pressing on nerves or chemicals produced by a tumour.
Cancer pain can be treated by switching treatment medications or undergoing radiation therapy or surgery to relieve pain and shrink metastases.
