Diseases of Skeletal System

Though not as common as diseases that affect other systems of your body, it is possible to suffer from a disease of the skeletal system. Most bone diseases affect the overall structure and strength of this part of your body, normally isolated to a section of the skeletal system. However, you may also develop a bone disease that can affect other areas of the body.

Osteoporosis

• One of the more common diseases of the skeletal system is osteoporosis, a degenerative condition that causes your bones to become more porous than normal. Over time, the affected bones become brittle and weak, increasing your chances of fractures and breaks. And though these types of injuries aren't always a cause for alarm, someone dealing with osteoporosis can actually become disabled from severe impact to bones. Increasing your intake of calcium can go a long way to preventing this disease, but you may also need to rely on hormone therapy, bisphosphonates, calcitonin, teriparatide or even tamoxifen (frequently used in the treatment of cancer) to improve your condition.

Arthritis

• Another common disease of the skeletal system is arthritis. With this condition, joints in your body begin to suffer from inflammation, causing a great deal of stiffness and pain. Osteoarthritis is one of the most common forms of arthritis, but you can also suffer from a condition known as rheumatoid arthritis. As the condition persists, you may begin to experience mobility issues as well as problems with your posture or even fine motor skills. Treatment is usually based on reducing the symptoms of the condition, such as pain and stiffness, through a course of prescription medications, physical therapy or surgery (to correct or replace the affected joint).

Rickets

• Rickets is a childhood disease of the skeletal system characterized by soft bones. This is usually a result of a vitamin deficiency, namely vitamin D, which aids in the absorption of calcium, one of the main building blocks of your bones. It also helps your body absorb phosphorous, another crucial part of strong bones. Proper diet is really the best way to prevent this disease in children.

Bone Cancer

• It is also possible to have cancer of the bones. Though the primary form of bone cancer isn't as common as cancer that has spread to bones from the blood or organs, there are cases of this type of disease, especially in regard to children. It seems that abnormal cells are more apt to grow in bones that are growing than those that are already set in place. If you were to be diagnosed with bone cancer, treatment typically involves a standard course of care, including surgical procedures to remove the diseased tissue as well as radiation therapy, chemotherapy and sometimes hormone therapy.

Paget's Disease

• Though not necessarily as common as other diseases of the bone, you may also develop a condition known as Paget's disease. This condition affects the way your bones metabolize. Throughout your life, your bones will break down, then quickly rebuild themselves. Normally, this is a cyclical process of breakdown and renewal. But with this disease, your bone breaks down at a much faster rate than it can rebuild, causing it to become more fragile than normal and even misshapen.