Paget's disease of the bone is relatively uncommon, but affects a significant portion of the elderly and can cause pain, discomfort, and other symptoms.
Many do not realize that bone, much like skin, is constantly under pressure and constantly undergoes wear, and as such, some of this tissue naturally wears away over the period of our lives and is proportionally rebuilt. Paget's disease of bone involves an acceleration in the degradation of this bone, which weakens the bone's structure. The body, however, attempts to compensate for this wear, and often does so excessively or in ways that are not beneficial to the body's skeletal structure. It is then that abnormal growth becomes one of the causes of the disorder's symptoms.
Quite dangerously, a large number of people with Paget's disease have no obvious symptoms. Bone pain is one of the symptoms that can appear, especially in more advanced cases. The spine, bones of the leg (femur, tibia), skull and upper arm (humerus) are the most common locations of deterioration. Bone deformities or growths in these locations or others are also good signs that an individual may have Paget's disease.
Usually, diagnosis occurs as a result of reported pain in the hip. A doctor will generally want to check for signs of osteoporosis, bone cancer, and a number of other abnormal bone growth conditions such as hyperparathyroidism.
Home care is a large part of Paget's disease treatment, and is largely centered upon the relief of pain and discomfort. Pain diaries, exercise, soaking and heat application are frequently used to treat the pain associated with the disease. When the softening of skull bone tissue occurs, hearing loss, ear pain and audible ringing may occur. White noise machines may help to relieve the pain, while a hearing aid may be required to combat the effects of hearing loss.
Paget's disease cannot be cured by medication or any other means, but it can be managed, both through home-care methods as described above and through the use of medication as advised by a medical professional. Bisphosphonates, which decrease the productivity of bone cells, called osteoclasts, can be used by prescription to reduce the breakdown and abnormal regrowth of bone tissue. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be used to treat pain. These include aspirin, Tylenol, ibuprofen and others, and are generally nonprescription. In severe cases stronger pain relief may be prescribed.
