Frequently
Asked Questions

	What are the symptoms of Paget's disease?
	Do most people who have Paget's disease know that they have it?
	Which bones may be affected by Paget's disease?

Q. What are the symptoms of Paget's disease

A. In many cases, there may be no symptoms of Paget's disease. Many patients who have Paget's disease do not know they have it since the disease may be so mild that it is not diagnosed. Sometimes the patient's symptoms are confused with arthritis or other disorders. In other cases, the diagnosis is made only after complications have developed.

In many cases, there may be no visible symptoms of Paget's disease. See your doctor if you notice:

	Changes in the fit of your hat or glasses
	Unexplained bone pain
	A warm feeling over the bone
	One of the legs shows signs of bowing

When symptoms of Paget's disease do occur, they are usually in advanced cases, and they can include:

Bone pain. This is a common symptom of Paget's disease and can occur in any bone affected by Paget's disease. Bone pain is often felt in joints near the affected bones.

Headaches. These may occur when Paget's disease affects the skull.

Hearing loss. This can result from inner ear involvement when Paget's disease is in the skull.

Bone deformities. These deformities, such as increased head size, bowing of a limb or curvature of the spine, are caused by enlargement and/or weakening of the affected bones and occur in advanced cases.

Fractures. Bones weakened by Paget's disease can break more easily than healthy bones.

Arthritis. This is a common occurrence which leads to joint pain due to damage to the cartilage of joints adjacent to affected bone or bones.

Back and leg pain. These problems may occur when Paget's disease affects the spine.
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Q. Do most people who have Paget's disease know that they have it?

A. No. Many patients who have Paget's disease do not know they have it since the disease may be so mild that it is not diagnosed. Sometimes the patient's symptoms are confused with arthritis or other disorders. In other cases, the diagnosis is made only after complications have developed.
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Q. Which bones may be affected by Paget's disease?

A. Any bone can be affected in Paget's disease. Paget's disease occurs most frequently in the spine, skull, pelvis and bones of the lower extremities (thighs and lower legs). Some patients will have only one affected bone, while others may have two, three, or more affected bones.
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