Most people with Paget’s disease are unaware that they even have it. This disease sometimes has minor or undetectable symptoms. Errors in the process of bone transformation can lead to abnormal bones. This process can result in fractures, deformities, bone discomfort, arthritis, and bone weakness.
With Paget’s disease, the body may produce new bone in the wrong places or shed old bone from the appropriate positions.
Let’s understand the causes, complications, symptoms and treatment of this sickness.
What is Paget’s disease of the bones?
This illness hampers the body’s natural recycling mechanism. In this recycling process, new bone tissue progressively replaces old bone tissue. Bones have a tendency to deteriorate and deform over time. The most frequently impacted areas are the pelvis, brain, spine, and legs. Age and family history both raise the likelihood of Paget’s illness of the bones.
What are the contributing causes?
Unfortunately, there is no way to resist it from developing. Some variables are thought to increase the likelihood of acquiring bone Paget’s disease. Although this notion is debatable. Some researchers think Paget’s disease of the bone is connected to viral infection in the cartilage cells. The following factors can raise your risk of developing it.
Family background
if one has a family member with this sickness. It may increase the risk to other family members too. So if that is the case with you, you must be slightly more careful than usual.
Gender
As per the studies, males are somewhat more likely to acquire this disease than females. That does not mean that females should ignore relevant symptoms.
National origin
Paget’s disease of the bone is more prevalent in the UK, Scotland, Central Europe, and Greece. it’s unusual in Asia and Scandinavia.
Complications
As time passes it can result in health issues such as:
Osteoarthritis
The bone surrounding a joint can suffer damage from Paget’s disease. Many people experience bone or joint discomfort. Arthritis may result from this weakening and degeneration of the joint’s cartilage.
Fractures (broken bones)
A page’s disease-affected bone is more prone to breaking and might completely break even from minor injuries. Long bones, or those that support the body’s weight, are more likely to fracture than other types. Fractures in long bones may be quite serious and cause significant bleeding. Small breaks may result in discomfort that gets worse as you walk or move heavy objects. A damaged bone may mend abnormally as a result of Paget’s disease.
Bone cancer (Osteogenic Sarcoma)
This is a rare yet severe consequence of this illness. The most typical signs of bone cancer are extreme bone pain and enlargement of the surrounding tissue.
Neurological conditions
The expansion of bone due to Paget’s disease may compress and injure passing nerves. Such chronic conditions in the spine and skull may lead to neurological conditions. This may cause pain, weakness, or tingling in a leg or arm as well as hearing loss
Heart attack
When the condition is serious, the heart might need to put more effort to pump blood into the affected body parts. This heavier workload can occasionally cause cardiac failure.
What are the symptoms of Paget’s disease of the bone?
Paget’s disease of the bones affects a lot of people who are unaware of it. They could show no symptoms at all, or just have minor ones. A person experiences symptoms that are comparable to those of other bone disorders, such as arthritis. Because this illness leads your body to produce new bone more quickly than usual. The bone that results from quick remodelling is typically less structured and more fragile than regular bones. Fractures, deformities, and discomfort in the bones can result from this.
The sickness may simply alter a small portion of the human body, or it may influence your entire body. The following are possible symptoms and warning indications of bone Paget’s disease:
Both migraines and hearing loss
If the skull is influenced by Paget’s disease, one may experience migraine and hearing loss as well. Be alert if you face these symptoms and private GP in london or wherever you live.
Hip or knee osteoarthritis
When the disease strikes, the bones in your legs could flex, giving you bow legs. Your leg’s enlarged and malformed bones could strain neighbouring joints.
Hip aches
When the pelvis is affected by this disease one may experience hip aches.
Arm or leg ache
The body’s nerve roots may be crushed if the spine is impacted by this sickness. Due to this, One may feel tingling and numbness.
When to visit a doctor
One must consult a physician if he /she has:
- Bone anomalies
- Joint or bone discomfort
- Weakness and tingling in an extremity
- Hearing loss especially if it just affects one side
Treatment
As of now, there is no complete cure for Paget’s disease. However, treatment can manage it and lessen the severity of its symptoms. Opting for the best bone profile test is all you need to ensure your safety.
All Paget’s disease patients may not require treatment, But if testing indicates need of treatment one should opt for it. Bisphosphonates are typically the first course of therapy. Bisphosphonates are the drug that aids in slowing the bone’s disorderly breakdown.
Surgery
The consequences of Paget’s disease on the bone may lead to surgery to treat. Some procedures include knee or hip replacement. The other include realigning malformed bones, and facilitating improved bone fracture healing.
Conclusion
Since Paget’s disease of the bone frequently develops without any symptoms. So, it can be challenging to diagnose it. Your bones may slowly deteriorate without showing any symptoms, leaving you unaware. So, it’s crucial to identify and understand the warning signs of this illness. Particularly, if one is suffering from arthritis or recently experienced breakage of bones. These are possible causes of this sickness.
Private GP London clinics offer bone profile lab tests at the best rates. Thus, if anyone experiences bone pain or similar issues as mentioned above, he should immediately contact any of them before it gets too late.
