Paget's Disease

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• QWhat is Pagets disease?

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  A Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center answered

  Paget's disease changes your bones. Normally, bone tissue is broken down and rebuilt throughout your life. If you have Paget's disease, that breaking down and building up process speeds up. This can affect the size, shape, and density of your bones. It can also result in bone pain.

• QWhat is the treatment for Paget's disease?

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  A Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center answered

  Treatment varies depending on the severity and location of Paget's disease. If you have no symptoms and are at low risk for complications, you may not need any treatment. Heel lifts and other orthotic devices can help if walking is a problem. If you experience pain, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and acetaminophen may be recommended. If you need surgery to repair bones or are at risk for serious complications involving your spine and heart, your doctor may prescribe additional medications. Bisphosphonates and calcitonin are commonly used medications for Paget's disease. They can stop or slow t he progression of disease, and help ease pain in the bones.

• QHow is Paget's disease diagnosed?

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  A Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center answered

  A doctor performing an x-ray for other reasons often discovers the bone changes that indicate Paget's disease. If Paget's disease is suspected, a blood test or bone scan can confirm the diagnosis. A blood test measures the amount of alkaline phosphatase. Alkaline phosphatase is an enzyme that helps bones form. It usually occurs in higher amounts in people with Paget's disease. A bone scan uses radioactive tracers to find which parts of the bones have Paget's disease.

• QWhat are the symptoms associated with Paget's disease?

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  A Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center answered

  Symptoms of Paget's disease vary widely. The majority of people with Paget's disease do not have any symptoms. Other times, pain in the bones, joints, or nerves may be present. Depending on which bones are affected, you may be able to notice a change in their size. Sometimes, you may also have hearing loss or headaches and fractured bones.
• QHow do medications treat Paget's disease?

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  A Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center answered

  Over-the-counter medication like acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) relieve pain that is caused by Paget's disease. Bisphosphonates can slow down the development of Paget's disease and help return bone formation to normal. Calcitonin also helps return bone formation to normal; however, it is not as strong as bisphosphonates and is usually used only if bisphosphonates are too strong for you.

• QCan Paget's disease be prevented?

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  A Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center answered

  The exact cause of Paget's disease is not known; therefore, it is difficult to prevent. Regular exercise and consuming enough calcium and vitamin D can strengthen your bones, but not necessarily prevent Paget's disease. Once Paget's disease has been diagnosed, taking appropriate medication can prevent the disease from progressing quickly.

• QWhat causes Paget's disease of bone?

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  A Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center answered

  Throughout your life your bones are constantly broken down and rebuilt. Paget's disease changes this cycle by speeding up the rate at which it occurs. The exact cause for this change is not known. There is some evidence that it is tied to genetics and can run in families. It is more common in men, and more common in people of Western European descent. There is also some evidence that it may be linked to a virus that infects bones, although it is not considered to be contagious.

• QHow does Paget's disease affect the body?

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  A Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center answered

  Even though you may not feel any symptoms, Paget's disease can affect your body in a variety of ways. It can make your bones grow faster, larger, and weaker. It can damage the joints and nerves near the bones that are affected. Paget's disease does not necessarily affect every bone in your body - the skull, pelvis, and arm and leg bones are among those that are frequently affected. The bones that have Paget's disease may fracture easier than normal and you may feel pain in those areas.

• QWhat increases my risk for Paget's disease?

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  A Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center answered

  As far as scientists know, there are four groups of people with more risk for Paget's disease than others. First, Paget's disease usually occurs in people more than 40 years old. Second, Paget's disease sometimes runs in families. Third, men experience the disease far more often than women do. And fourth, people of Anglo-Saxon descent living in England, the U.S., Australia, or New Zealand experience Paget's disease more often than do other people.

• QShould I talk to my doctor about my Paget's disease symptoms?

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  A Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center answered

  People with Paget's disease should see a doctor to have their pain treated and to prevent complications. If you suspect you have Paget's disease because you experience pain in your bones, joints, or nerves or have noticed changes in your bones, schedule a doctor appointment. If you have already been diagnosed with Paget's disease, call your doctor if your pain suddenly changes, if the pain affects your skull, head, or face, or if you experience tingling and weakness.