Paget’s disease

There are different kinds of arthritic conditions.  There are over 100 and one of these conditions is a very debilitating disorder that is called Paget’s disease.  This type of arthritis is usually going to affect patients who are in their later years of life.  This will be between the ages of 50 and 70. This is a chronic skeletal condition that is similar to osteoarthritis.  It is sometimes misdiagnosed.  Paget’s disease can be painful and make life hard but there are many things that you can do to prevent this disease from happening as well as a number of treatments if you have already started to get the disease.

Paget’s disease is characterized by enlarged and deformed bone structure in one or more parts of the body.  The pelvis, legs, skull and back are more commonly affected with the disease and it can result in high amounts of arthritic pain and can also account for hearing loss that starts in the skull.  The patient’s bones are fragile and fractures can happen easily.  There is no one-way of cause for Paget’s disease but there are many things that a person can do if they develop this type of pain.

Paget’s Disease can occur when the enzyme SAP is overly produced in the bones and causing it to grow abnormally and start to be weak.  Measuring SAP is what doctors can do to determine if the pain that you are having is due to Paget’s even if you may see some other signs like bowed limbs.  SAP is measured often with a blood test and higher than normal levels along with normal kidney function.  Doctors will also use SAP level readings to chart how patients are reacting to different forms of treatment for their conditions.

Bisphosponates and calcitonin are the two types of drugs that are ready by the Food and Drug Administration to treat Paget’s disease.  There are doctors that may sometimes recommend surgery for fractures or extreme deformities.  There are alternative medical treatments that can also help patients cope with the pain.  This will include acupuncture, massage, cupping, medication, and Eastern exercises like Yoga. 

It is important to remain positive with the treatment.  Paget’s Disease can be extremely painful but it is possible for patients to live even when they are suffering from the disease.  You need to learn all that you can about the illness and stay educated on new medications and treatments so that you can take good care of your body and keep healthy.