Help! I learned I have Paget’s disease what should I do
Paget’s disease is a chronic condition of the bone that results in the disorder of the normal formation of the bone. In normal bone, there is a balance of forces that lay down new bones and take up old bones for maintaining the proper level of calcium in the blood. People who have Paget's disease have the bone abnormally formed, making it become enlarge, dense, and prone to breakage. The symptoms of Paget's disease includes itching, pain, sensitivity and bone deformation, etc. So, what can someone in this situation do to help themselves? Seeking medical care The first step to fighting Paget's disease is to go for proper diagnosis. This will help to detect the disease accurately, analyze it and find ways to for a cure. Medical care for Paget's disease should begin immediately after noticing weakness or change in bowel movement or bladder functions and increasing bone pain or deformities. Physicians and specialists treating Paget's disease include primary care providers, endocrinologists, radiologists, nuclear medicine doctors and so on. Also, spine surgeons may treat Paget's disease if spinal surgery is needed. Diagnosis The process of diagnosing involves many activities including laboratories studies on blood and urine. Laboratory tests that provide information about the rate of bone turnover, like the bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, is carried out. Other laboratory studies that are essentials for proper diagnosis includes assessment of parathyroid hormone levels, calcium, and phosphate. If a fracture or malignment transformation is suspected there may be needs for radiographs to have a detailed information about the impact. In patients with neurological dysfunction and muscle weaknesses, CT Scans and MRI Scans are necessary. The bone scan is highly essential because it helps to determine the level of impact of the disease on the bone by providing a total image of the entire skeleton. A bone biopsy is generally not necessary but will be considered if there is a suspicion of abnormal lesion or cancer involved. Medical treatment for Paget's disease
The primary intention of treating Paget's disease is to find ways to control the disease activities and manage any form of complications. Bone pain can be treated with antiinflammatory drugs, while bone deformity will require the application of specialized footwear or heel lifts. In the case of damage joints, fractures, or bones that are severely deformed, surgery may be needed to correct the deformity, after doctors have treated the patients with medications to reduce surgical complications. The use of Intravenous zoledronic acid as a bisphosphonate is very effective in treating the symptoms of Paget’s disease. People whose Paget's disease has affected their joints usually benefits from muscle strengthening and physical therapy programs. There are no home remedies for Paget's disease. Once the symptoms begin to show, it is important for patients to immediately seek medical advice and proceed to have a diagnosis done. If treated on time, Paget's disease cannot become life threatening. Most people who have it get to live a normal life and get back to their normal daily routines. Affected people are advised to see the doctor throughout their lives due to a small risk of bone tumor formation.