The most common symptom of Paget's disease is bone pain, which is more frequent at night, after a tiring day at work. However, about 70% of affected people have no symptoms and discover the disease when they have an X-ray scan for any other reason.
The disease is most commonly diagnosed after the age of 40, and the symptoms are more related to complications that may occur after the onset of the disease. Thus, the signs that they may indicate Paget's disease can be:
- Pain in the bones, especially in the legs Frequent fractures, apparently for no reason Increased curvature of the spine, leaving the person 'humpbacked' OsteoporosisHeadache and increased head sizeDeformation in the legs, leaving them archedDeafness caused by enlarged skull bonesPain and joint deformity
If it occurs in the skull, for example, the individual may have deformations in the eyebrows and forehead, headache and hearing loss, for example. Any bone that is affected by this disease tends to become more fragile and at greater risk of fractures.
How Paget's Disease is diagnosed
The doctor can reach your diagnosis through an X-ray or bone scan, and a blood test that measures the amount of calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Calcium and potassium values may be normal and alkaline phosphatase is generally elevated.
On the radiograph, the doctor can observe the bone characteristic of 'candle flame', and it is also possible to check the 3 different phases of bone remodeling in the same bone.
Although magnetic resonance imaging is not always necessary, this test helps to identify the possibility of sarcoma, giant cell tumor and metastasis, while tomography is useful to assess the possibility of fracture.
Find out how medicines, food and physical therapy can help in the treatment of Paget's disease.
