What is Pagets disease?
Paget’s disease is a long-lasting (chronic) condition that causes abnormal bone growth. Bone is constantly being replaced as bone tissue is broken down and absorbed into the body, then rebuilt with new cells. In the early stages of Paget’s disease, bone tissue is broken down and absorbed much faster than normal. To keep up with the rapid breakdown of bone tissue, the body speeds up the bone rebuilding process. But this new bone is often weak and brittle, causing it to break (fracture) more easily. Paget’s disease usually affects the bones in the pelvis , spine , thigh (femur ), skull, shin (tibia), and upper arm (humerus ). One bone or several bones may be affected by Paget’s disease. What causes Paget’s disease? The cause of Paget’s disease is not clear. Genetic factors and viruses may play a role in the development of the disease. What are the symptoms? Most people with Paget’s disease have no symptoms. When symptoms are present, the most common are bone pain, deformed bones (bowed l
