Coping with PAGET'S BONE DISEASE

This disrupts the normal cycle of bone renewal, causing bones to become weakened

- ADVICE FROM OUR WOMAN'S WEEKLY DOCTOR

Paget's disease is common in the UK, rare in people under 50, but by the age of 80, one in 12 men and one in 20 women may have it. The cause isn’t clear, but family genetics play a part. Lifestyle factors, such as poor diet or early bone injury, may trigger its development in people already at risk, usually affecting the pelvis, spine, legs, shoulders or skull.

Bone cells constantly regenerate in a similar way to skin — old bone is removed and replaced by new bone. In Paget's, the bones’ osteoclast cells, which absorb old bone cells, work at a much faster rate than usual, triggering osteoblasts (bone-making cells) to produce new bone more quickly, but larger and weaker than normal. The rate of bone renewal is greatly increased and uncontrolled, resulting in bones bending or damaging nearby joints. Blood flow is also increased, so affected areas feel unusually warm, especially where bones are close to the surface, such as in the shins.

Pain is the most common symptom. This is usually felt in the bone itself or in joints nearby, possibly caused by increased blood flow in affected areas, nerve fibres surrounding the bone being stretched as they enlarge or bend, joint damage or enlarged bone pressing on nerves.

You may notice changes in bone shape, shooting pains across the body, numbness and tingling (peripheral neuropathy) or balance problems. However, sometimes there are no symptoms and the condition is found during tests for another reason.