What is Paget’s disease? Symptoms, causes and treatment – know all.

No matter what the disease may be, it definitely interferes with your life, ranging from moderate to serious and very serious. Among the most serious diseases, those related to bones can be considered the most serious, because they leave such an impression that one has to face problems throughout life, for a common example you can take bone fracture. Even if the broken bone is reattached, one has to face problems throughout life. Paget’s disease is one such disease related to bones due to which a person has to face many serious problems. In this article we will discuss in detail about Paget’s disease. In the article you will also learn about the symptoms of Paget’s disease, causes of Paget’s disease and most importantly, the treatment of Paget’s disease.

What is Paget’s disease?

Paget’s disease of the bones starts interfering with the normal recycling process in the body, due to which new bone tissue gradually replaces the old bone tissue. When this starts happening, the affected bones gradually start becoming weaker and deformed than normal, due to which the person has to face many problems.

Paget’s disease of the bones primarily affects the bones of the pelvis, skull, spine, and most legs. Paget’s disease is a chronic bone disease because it does not occur suddenly but gradually. Paget’s disease is also known as Paget’s disease of bone. The risk of this disease increases with age, whereas if someone in the family already has this disease, then you too may be at risk. If it is not treated properly, it can lead to problems like bone fractures, deafness and compression of nerves in the spinal bones.

What are the symptoms of Paget’s disease? What are the symptoms of Paget’s disease?
One reason why Paget’s disease of the bones is so serious is that its symptoms are not easily visible in most people and when symptoms start appearing it is too late. The most common symptom of Paget’s disease is that pain starts in the bones. During Paget’s disease, a new bone starts forming in the patient’s body faster than normal. Bone remodeling occurs faster than normal, is less organized than normal bone, and is also much weaker, resulting in bone pain and deformity as well as risk of fracture. .

In case of this disease of bones, generally only one or two areas can be affected, only if it becomes very widespread, this disease can affect other parts of the body. The symptoms seen in Paget’s disease vary depending on the affected area, which are described below: –

1. Pelvis:- Due to Paget’s disease of the bone, pain can occur from the pelvis to the hip.

2. Spine :- If your spine is affected, the nerve roots may get compressed. This may cause pain, tingling and numbness in the arms or legs.

3. Skull :- Overgrowth of bone in the skull can cause hearing loss or headache.

4. Leg: As the bones weaken, they can bend – causing some of you to look hunched over. Overgrown and misaligned bones in your feet can put extra stress on nearby joints, leading to osteoarthritis in your knee or hip.

What are the causes of Paget’s disease?
There is no information yet about why Paget bone disease occurs. Scientists currently suspect that a combination of environmental and genetic factors cause this bone disease. Several genes appear to be linked to the development of this disease. Some scientists believe that Paget’s disease of bone is related to a viral infection in your bone cells, but this theory is controversial.

What are the risk factors for Paget’s disease?

Some of the following factors can play a significant role in increasing the risk of Paget’s bone disease: –

1. Age :- People above 50 years of age are most likely to develop this disease.

2. Gender :- Men are more affected than women.

3. National origin :- Paget’s disease of bone is more common in England, Scotland, Central Europe and Greece, as well as in countries settled by European immigrants. It is uncommon in Scandinavia and Asia.

4. Family history: If someone close to you by blood has Paget’s disease of bone, you are more likely to develop the condition.

What complications can one face if one has Paget’s disease?

In most cases, Paget’s disease of bone progresses slowly. The disease can be managed effectively in almost all people. However, in case of Paget’s disease, some serious complications may occur as mentioned below:-

Fractures and deformities: Affected bones break more easily, and these deformed bones have extra blood vessels that cause them to bleed more during surgery. The bones of the foot may bend, affecting your ability to walk.

Osteoarthritis:- Malformed bones can increase the amount of stress on nearby joints, which can lead to osteoarthritis.

Neurological problems: When Paget’s disease of bone occurs in an area where nerves pass through the bone, such as the spine and skull, overgrowth of bone can compress and damage the nerve, causing pain, weakness, or numbness in the arms or legs. Tingling or hearing loss may occur.

Heart failure: In severe cases, your heart may have to work harder to pump blood to affected areas of your body. Sometimes, this increased workload can lead to heart failure.

Bone cancer: Bone cancer occurs in 1 percent of people with Paget’s disease of bone.

How is Paget’s disease diagnosed?

When diagnosing Paget’s disease, your doctor will examine the parts of your body that are causing you pain. He may also order X-rays and blood tests that can help confirm the diagnosis of Paget’s disease of bone. Depending on the symptoms, the doctor may order you to get the following tests done:-

Imaging tests:-

The changes in the bone can be clearly seen by the following tests –

X-rays: The first sign of Paget’s disease of bone is often abnormalities found on X-rays taken for other reasons. X-ray images of your bones can show areas of bone breakdown, bone expansion, and deformity that are characteristic of the disease, such as bending of your long bones.

Bone scan:- In a bone scan, radioactive material is injected into your body. This material travels to the most affected spots on your bones, and they light up on the scan images.

Lab tests Lab tests :-

People who have Paget’s disease of bone usually have high levels of alkaline phosphatase in their blood, which can be detected by a blood test.
How is Paget’s disease treated? How is Paget’s disease treated?

Paget’s disease is treated based on symptoms. If a patient is not showing any symptoms then he does not require treatment. But if the patient is showing symptoms and the disease is active, especially if it is affecting high-risk areas such as the skull or spine, the doctor will recommend getting treatment as soon as possible to prevent complications. The disease can be cured as soon as possible. In such a situation, whether the patient is experiencing symptoms from the affected area or not. Paget’s disease is treated as follows:-

Medications

Osteoporosis drugs (bisphosphonates) are the most common treatment for Paget’s disease of bone. Bisphosphonates are usually given by injection into a vein, but they can also be taken by mouth. When taken orally, bisphosphonates are generally well tolerated but can cause stomach irritation.

Bisphosphonates that are given intravenously include:

1. Zoledronic acid (Zometa, Reclast) – Zoledronic acid (Zometa, Reclast)

2. Pamidronate (Aredia) – Pamidronate (Aredia)

3. Ibandronate (Boniva) – Ibandronate (Boniva)

Oral bisphosphonates include:-

1. Alendronate (Fosamax, Binosto) – Alendronate (Fosamax, Binosto)

2. Risedronate (Actonel, Atelvia) – Risedronate (Actonel, Atelvia)
Rarely, bisphosphonate therapy has been associated with severe muscle, joint, or bone pain, which may not resolve when the drug is discontinued. Bisphosphonates may also increase the risk of a rare condition in which part of the jaw bone dies and deteriorates, usually associated with active dental disease or oral surgery.

If you can’t tolerate bisphosphonates, your doctor may prescribe calcitonin (Miacalcin), a naturally occurring hormone involved in calcium regulation and bone metabolism. Calcitonin is a medication that you administer to yourself by injection or nasal spray. Side effects may include nausea, facial redness, and irritation at the injection site.

surgery
In case of pager bone disease, surgery is required in very rare cases, which can provide the following benefits: –

1. Helps in healing fractures

2. Helpful in replacing joints damaged by severe arthritis

3. Helpful in realigning deformed bones

4. Reduce pressure on veins

Paget or Paget’s disease of bone often causes the body to produce too many blood vessels in the affected bones, increasing the risk of serious blood loss during the operation.

If you are scheduled for surgery that involves bones affected by Paget’s disease of bone, your doctor may prescribe medications to reduce disease activity, which may help reduce blood loss during surgery. .

Lifestyle changes and some home remedies

To reduce your risk of complications associated with Paget’s bone disease, try these tips:

Prevent falls :- Paget’s disease of bone puts you at higher risk of bone fractures. Consult your doctor to prevent falls. He may recommend that you use a cane or a walker.

Fall-proof your home Fall-proof your home: Remove slippery floor coverings, use nonskid mats in your bathtub or shower, remove cords, and install handrails on stairs and grab bars in your bathroom.

Eat well:- Make sure your diet includes adequate levels of calcium and vitamin D, which helps bones absorb calcium. This is especially important if you are taking a bisphosphonate. Review your diet with your doctor and ask if you should take vitamin and calcium supplements.

Exercise regularly:- Regular exercise is necessary to maintain the mobility of joints and strength of bones. Talk to your doctor before starting an exercise program to determine the right type, duration, and intensity of exercise for you. Some activities can put too much pressure on your affected bones.

Is it possible to prevent Paget’s disease?

Paget’s disease is unavoidable for most people with the disorder, but exercise can help maintain skeletal health, avoid weight gain, and maintain joint mobility to relieve pressure on joints and bones. Is. People with the disease should talk to their doctor before starting any exercise program, as putting extra pressure on bones affected by Paget’s disease can cause injury.