HWN Suggests

PAGET'S DISEASE of the bone? Chances are you never heard of it

Paget's disease of the bone? Chances are you never heard of it. Yet it is the second most common bone disease in the country, and it affects about three million Americans.

As with osteoporosis, the No. 1 bone disease, many who have Paget's disease do not know it. They may have no symptoms, or their symptoms may be confused with those of other chronic ailments, like arthritis. Others may experience tell-tale skeletal symptoms, like bowing of the legs or spinal deformities, that are painful and disabling.

Although many people with Paget's disease need no specific treatment, for many others early diagnosis can lead to treatments that help to slow its progress and prevent devastating…

read full article

Articles of Interest

The Bone Disease You’ve Likely Never Heard Of

Most Paget’s patients are unaware they have the disease, since they are often asymptomatic. The disease is usually discovered incidentally when tests are performed for another reason, such as x-ray imaging, which would reveal areas of porous, thickened bone, or blood tests, which would reveal an elevated level of the enzyme associated with bone cell formation.

Egil's Bones

An Icelandic saga tells of a Viking who had unusual, menacing features, including a skull that could resist blows from an ax. He probably suffered from an ailment called Paget's disease.

Individual Experiences of Paget's Disease

Recardo was 48 when he began to experience pain radiating down his thigh. He had investigations which led to a diagnosis of Paget’s disease in his right pelvis. His endocrinologist prescribed an infusion of Zoledronate and Recardo has never looked back. Although he suffered flu–like side-effects for about 8 hours following the treatment, eventually the drug took effect and he became pain free. This was over 4 years ago and he has not had any pain or problems since. He is monitored each year and is very happy with the success of his treatment.

Margaret Seton, MD, shares insights into Paget’s disease of bone

A genetic association is seen in about 50% of patients who have family members with the disease and in 15% of those Seton described as “sporadic patients,” suggesting other causes may be present.

Pagets disease of bone - Causes and Treatments

Unfortunately, Paget's disease is incurable and therefore once affected; the patients can only alleviate its symptoms by administration of drugs or surgery.

Paget’s Disease and Your Spine

Paget’s disease, also known as osteitis deformans, is the second most common bone disorder in the United States (behind osteoporosis). Paget’s disease occurs when your bone cells don’t function properly, resulting in deformed, enlarged, and fragile bones. The bones of your spine (vertebrae) are susceptible to this condition.

Resources

Paget’s Association

The Paget’s Association, also known as the National Association for the Relief of Paget’s Disease, is the only UK charity to focus solely on Paget’s Disease of Bone. The Association acts as a resource for patients, carers and health professionals, offering high quality information and support services

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Paget’s disease causes bones to grow too large and weak. You can have Paget’s disease in any bones in your body, but most people have it in their spine, pelvis, skull, or leg bones. The disease may affect only one bone or several bones, but it does not affect the entire skeleton. Bones with Paget’s disease may break more easily, and the disease can lead to other health problems.

myDr

There is no cure for Paget’s disease, but if you experience troublesome symptoms, there are a number of treatments available...

NHS

Paget's disease of bone disrupts the normal cycle of bone renewal, causing bones to become weakened and possibly deformed. It's a fairly common condition in the UK, particularly in older people. It's rare in people under 50 years of age.

OrthoInfo

Paget's disease can affect any bone in the skeleton. It appears most often in the spine, pelvis, long bones of the limbs, and skull. It can be present in just one bone or in several bones. It can affect the entire bone or just part of it. Paget's disease tends to appear in families. It can be present in as many as 25 percent to 40 percent of the relatives of someone with the disease. It is also more common in people of Anglo-Saxon descent and those who live in certain geographic areas...

Radiopaedia

Paget disease of the bone is a common, chronic bone disorder characterised by excessive abnormal bone remodelling. It frequently affects the pelvis, spine, skull and proximal long bones and has characteristic radiographic features.

Your.MD

Paget's disease disrupts the normal cycle of bone renewal and repair, causing bones to become weakened and deformed.