Q. What is the relationship between arthritis and Paget's disease?
A.
Paget's disease can cause arthritis by changing bones around joints: (1) long bones such as the thigh and leg bones may become bowed and distort the normal alignment and pressures within the adjacent joints; (2) bone with Paget's disease may become enlarged, causing the joint surfaces to undergo excessive wear and tear. Osteoarthritis is a common cause of pain in Paget's disease, but the disease itself also causes bone pain. In many patients, the bone pain may be due to a combination of Paget's disease and osteoarthritis.
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Q. Is there a relationship between Paget's disease and osteoporosis?
A.
No, except that some therapies are used to treat both diseases. Osteoporosis is a condition of generalized loss of bone mass, often found in the elderly, which can lead to fractures. Although Paget's disease and osteoporosis can occur in the same patient, they are completely different bone disorders with different causes. However, some of the treatments used for Paget's disease are also used to treat osteoporosis. The appropriate doses of these drugs are different for Paget's disease than for osteoporosis.
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Q. What are the possible connections between Paget's disease and heart disease?
A.
In patients with extensive Paget's disease, the heart may have to work harder to pump extra blood to affected bones. This usually does not result in heart failure except in some people who already have heart disease such as arteriosclerosis (hardening) of the arteries of the heart.
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Q. What are the possible connections between Paget's disease and kidney problems?
A.
There is no direct relationship between Paget's disease and kidney problems. However, kidney stones are somewhat more common in patients with Paget's disease.
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Q. What causes pain in Paget's disease?
A.
Pain is the most common symptom that brings a patient with Paget's disease to a physician. Since most patients with painful symptoms of Paget's disease do not have obvious deformities, they may not receive the correct diagnosis. The types of pain associated with Paget's disease can include: bone pain, osteoarthritic pain, headaches, muscular pain and sciatica, a pain down a leg resulting from irritation of the sciatic nerve.
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Q. Why do some Paget's disease patients experience loss of hearing? Can anything be done to remedy this condition?
A.
When Paget's disease of the skull affects the inner ear, severe and progressive loss of hearing may occur. This may involve both sides, and one side predominantly. If the loss of hearing is progressive and due to Paget's disease, treating the Paget's disease may slow or stop the progression of the hearing loss. Hearing aids may help some patients.
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Q. Can Paget's disease affect vision?
A.
Yes. When the skull is involved, the nerves to the eye may be affected and cause some loss of vision. This complication is quite rare.
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Q. How does Paget's disease affect the teeth?
A.
When Paget's disease affects the facial bones, the teeth may be affected and become loose. Disturbance of the chewing mechanism may occur. Patients may also be prone to developing infections after dental procedures.
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Q. What is Sarcoma and how is it related to Paget's disease?
A.
Sarcoma is a malignant bone tumor. Paget's disease is rarely associated with Sarcoma. When a patient has a sudden onset of severe pain or worsening of previous pain that is not due to a fracture Sarcoma should be considered. In most cases, Sarcoma is not the cause of increased pain.
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