Paget Disease of Bone

Paget disease of bone is a problem with the way your bone cells break down and rebuild (remodel) bone. Parts of some of your bones grow thicker but weaker than normal.

• Doctors don’t know what causes most cases of Paget disease of bone, but it tends to run in families

• It can happen to any bone but is most common in the pelvis, thighbone, and skull

• It usually happens to people older than 40, and men are more likely to get it than women

• Most people don’t have symptoms but if you do, you may have bone pain, osteoarthritis, or painful pinched nerves

• Your bones may break more easily than normal

• Medicines called bisphosphonates may help

Bone is living tissue that is constantly being broken down and rebuilt. In Paget disease of bone, something goes wrong with how bone cells break down and rebuild bone. This leads to bone that grows bigger than normal but is weak.

Most of the time, doctors don’t know what causes this to happen. Paget disease can run in families.

Bowing of the Shinbone in Paget Disease

Image

DR P. MARAZZI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Paget disease usually causes no symptoms. If you do have symptoms, you may have:

• Deep, aching bone pain that may be worse at night

• Pinched nerves, causing pain

• Curved or unusually shaped bones

• Enlarged head, heavy brow, or hearing loss if your skull is affected

• Painful and stiff joints (osteoarthritis)

• Fractures that happen more easily than normal

To tell if you have Paget disease of bone, doctors do tests:

• X-rays

• Blood tests

• Sometimes a bone scan

Doctors will treat your Paget disease of bone if you have pain or they think it may cause other problems, such as hearing loss, osteoarthritis, or a misshapen body part. Usually they will:

• Encourage you to do daily activities that help build strong bones, such as standing and walking

• If one leg becomes curved and shortened, have you wear a shoe insert

• Sometimes, do surgery to relieve pinched nerves or replace a damaged joint

• Take medicines called bisphosphonates, which affect the abnormal bone growth