I got a call from the doctor today and said that she along with another doctor reviewed the results of my MRI and there were abnormalities on it. The results along with the previous testing leads them to believe that I do in fact have Pagets Disease. I have taken paragraphs from various articles and placed them on the blog as they can explain it better then I do. My doctor has me scheduled to see a Endocrinologist (specialist) on December 9th. She wants him to verify her diagnoses and this way I have see a specialist if anything would progress.
Thanks for the prayers, VONDA
ARTICLE ONE:
Paget's disease of the bone (osteitis deformans) is a chronic skeletal disorder, which may result in enlarged or deformed bones in one or more regions of the skeleton. Excessive bone breakdown and formation can result in bone, which is dense but fragile.
In many cases, there may be no Paget's disease symptoms. Many patients who have Paget's disease do not know they have it since the bone disease may be so mild that it is not diagnosed.
Sometimes the patient's Paget's disease symptoms are confused with arthritis or other bone disorders. In other cases, the diagnosis is made only after complications have developed. When Paget's disease symptoms do occur, they are usually in advanced cases, and they can include: bone pain, arthritis, fractures, bowing of limbs, and hearing loss if Paget's disease affects the skull. (mine does not effect the skull as my skull xray was normal)
The causes of Paget's disease are still not clearly defined. Research suggests that Paget's disease may be caused by a “slow virus” infection of bone, a condition that is present for many years before symptoms appear. There is also a hereditary factor since the bone disease is sometimes present in more than one member of a family. This hereditary factor may be the reason that members of a family who have Paget's disease are susceptible to the suspected virus.
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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ARTICLE TWO:
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.
The outlook for patients with
Paget's disease is generally good, particularly if treatment is given before major complications have occurred. The course of Paget's disease varies greatly and may range from completely stable to rapid progression. In general,
Paget's disease symptoms progress slowly in affected bones, and there is usually no spread to normal bones. Treatment can control Paget's disease and lessen symptoms but is not a cure. When untreated, Paget's disease can cause serious complications, depending on which bones are affected and how long the disease is present.
In many cases, there may be no visible Paget's disease symptoms. 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 Paget's disease symptoms do occur, they can include:
Bone pain. This is a common symptom 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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ARTICLE THREE:
Q. What is Paget's disease of the bone?
A. Paget's disease of the bone is a chronic disorder that typically results in enlarged and deformed bones in one or more regions of the skeleton. In Paget's disease of the bone the two bone cells, the osteoclast (the cell that resorbs or breaks bone down) and the osteoblast (the cell that forms new bone) do not interact normally. When this happens, excessive bone breakdown and formation can produce bone that is weak. As a result, bone pain, arthritis, noticeable deformities and fractures can occur. Back to Top
Q. What causes Paget's disease of the bone?
A. The causes of Paget's disease of the bone are still not clearly defined. Research suggests that Paget's disease of the bone may be caused by a “slow virus” infection of bone, a condition that is present for many years before Paget's disease symptoms appear. There is also a hereditary factor since the disease sometimes is present in more than one member of a family. This hereditary factor may be the reason that members of a family who have Paget's disease are susceptible to the suspected virus. There is also recent evidence that abnormalities of a gene on the 5th chromosome produced a susceptibility to Paget's disease in several families where Paget's disease was found in multiple family members. The way in which this abnormal gene interacts with the potential viral cause of Paget's disease is not known. Back to Top
Q. Which groups of people are usually affected by Paget's disease and how common is the disease?
A. Paget's disease is rarely diagnosed in people under 40. The prevalence ranges from 1.5 percent to 8 percent in older adults depending on the person's age and area of the world where he or she lives. Familial Paget's disease ranges from 10 percent to 40 percent in different parts of the world. More men than women develop Paget's disease. Back to Top
Q. Should siblings or children of patients with Paget's disease ask their physicians for any special diagnostic tests?
A. After the age of 40, siblings and children of a patient with Paget's disease should have a standard alkaline phosphatase blood test every 2 or 3 years. If the alkaline phosphatase level is above the normal range, which varies according to the laboratory test used, and there is no sign of liver disease, a bone scan may be done. If the bone scan is positive, an x-ray of the suspicious area or areas should be done to confirm a diagnosis.
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ARTICLE FIVE:
Paget Disease at a glance.......
Paget's disease is a chronic bone disorder.
Paget's disease frequently causes no symptoms.
Paget's disease can cause pain in the bones or joints, headaches and hearing loss, pressure on nerves, increased head size, bowing of limb, or curvature of spine.
Tests used to diagnose Paget's disease include x-rays, blood tests, and bone scanning.
Paget's disease can lead to other medical conditions.
Treatment options include aspirin, other anti-inflammatory medications, pain medications, and medications that slow the rate of bone turnover.
So if you actually read all that, then now you know as much about Pagets Disease as I do. I will keep you updated after the December 9th, appointment with the specialist.
Vonda
Vonda
