Paget’s Disease of Bone

What is it?

Points To Remember About Paget’s Disease

• Paget’s disease causes bones to grow too large and weaken.
• The disease is more common in older people and those of northern European heritage. Men are more likely than women to have the disease.
• Signs and symptoms can include pain, enlarged and broken bones, and damaged cartilage in joints.
• Doctors are not sure what causes Paget’s disease. They think that a virus may cause it in some cases. It also tends to run in families.
• Doctors usually diagnose Paget’s disease with x-rays.
• Paget’s disease is treated with medicines, diet, exercise, and surgery. Following a doctor's treatment plan may lower the chance of major changes in your bones.

Paget’s disease is a disorder that causes bones to grow too large and weaken. You can have Paget’s disease in any bone in your body, but it usually affects the:

• Spine.
• Pelvis.
• Skull.
• Leg bones.

The changes of bone tissue causes affected bone to weaken leading to:

• Bone pain.
• Misshapen bones.
• Fractures.
• Arthritis in the joints near the affected bones.

Paget’s disease usually only affects one bone or several bones, but it does not affect the entire skeleton.