Calcium Deposit Symptoms

The National Library of Medicine reports that 99 percent of the calcium that is taken into the body is deposited into the teeth and bones and the calcium left over is absorbed into the bloodstream. However, sometimes calcium deposits are unabsorbed and as a result are deposited into the soft tissues. These absorptions into soft tissues can result various conditions and symptoms.

A man is suffering from shoulder pain. (Image: szefei/iStock/Getty Images)

Bone Spurs

Bone spurs are deposits of calcium on the bones. They can occur all over the body but are commonly seen in the shoulders and feet. They usually cause no problems when they are small. However, as they grow they can pinch nerves and rub against other tissue causing severe pain in some cases. They can cause great difficulty with a person's range of motion when they occur in places like the shoulder. If they occur on feet and hands they can cause problems with walking or the use of the hands and make it difficult for a person to manage simple daily tasks.

Kidney Stones

According to the Mayo Clinic, kidney stones are formed when calcium is not fully absorbed by the body and mixes with uric acid in the kidneys. This mixture causes crystals to form, and this leads to the development of kidney stones. Kidney stones can be painful when the person begins to pass them. In some cases the stones may become so large that a person is unable to pass them at all and surgical intervention or even shock wave lithotripsy may be needed.

Calcinosis

Calcinosis is another condition that is caused by calcium deposits. The International Scleroderma Network reports that calcinosis causes small white lumps to form at the end of the fingers, near joints or on the elbows or knees. These lumps can break through the skin and leak white chalky liquid. They can be very small lumps with little or no pain or larger ones that result in significant pain. This condition is frequently seen in scleroderma or lupus patients.