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At Spectrum Healthcare North Ryde, we provide expert diagnosis and personalised treatment for Paget’s disease. Learn everything you need to know about this condition, its symptoms, diagnosis, and effective management options.

What Is Paget’s Disease?

Paget’s disease is a long-term, often symptomless condition that interferes with normal bone remodelling. Normally, bones constantly renew themselves through a process where old bone tissue is broken down and replaced with new. In Paget’s disease, this process is disrupted, leading to abnormal bone growth that makes bones larger, weaker, and more vulnerable to deformity. This can result in ongoing pain, fractures, and joint problems. Paget’s disease frequently affects bones such as the pelvis, spine, skull, femur (thigh bone), and tibia (shin bone).

Who Is at Risk of Developing Paget’s Disease?

Paget’s disease predominantly affects men over 50 years old and is rare in individuals under 40. It is more prevalent among people of European descent and is common in regions like North America, Europe, and Australia. A family history of Paget’s disease increases the likelihood of developing the condition, indicating a genetic component.

Recognising the Signs and Symptoms of Paget’s Disease

Many people with Paget’s disease experience no symptoms and discover the condition during routine check-ups. When symptoms do occur, they may include:

• Bone Pain: Deep, aching pain often worse at night or during rest
• Joint Stiffness and Pain: Especially if bones near joints are affected, resembling arthritis
• Bone Deformities: Bowing of the legs, skull enlargement, or spinal curvature
• Warmth Over Affected Area: Due to increased blood flow
• Bone Fractures: Weakened bones are more susceptible to breaks
• Hearing Loss: When skull involvement compresses nerves
• Fatigue and Weakness: In severe or widespread cases

How Is Paget’s Disease Diagnosed?

Expert diagnosis involves imaging tests such as X-rays, bone scans, or CT scans, which reveal characteristic features like:

• Enlarged or deformed bones
• Dense, sclerotic bone areas with mixed patterns of lytic (weak) and sclerotic (dense) regions
• “Cotton wool” appearance of the skull
• Increased activity in bone scans (“hot spots”)
• Fractures or fissures in weight-bearing bones

Blood tests measuring alkaline phosphatase levels further assist in confirming Paget’s disease.

How Can Paget’s Disease Mimic Other Conditions?

Due to its signs and symptoms, Paget’s disease can be mistaken for other musculoskeletal issues, such as:

• Osteoarthritis
• Degenerative spinal conditions (like disc herniation or spinal stenosis)
• Bone tumours or cysts
• Nerve compression syndromes such as sciatica

Due to these similarities, accurate diagnosis by a healthcare professional is crucial for effective management.

Effective Management with Spectrum Healthcare North Ryde’s Physiotherapy, Exercise Physiology and Chiropractic Services

While medication like bisphosphonates is commonly prescribed to regulate bone turnover, conservative therapy plays a vital role in symptom relief and maintaining mobility. Our expert staff offer tailored treatment plans, including:

• Pain Relief Techniques: Gentle stretching, manual therapy, and heat therapy
• Strengthening Exercises: Low-impact resistance training to support affected bones
• Mobility and Flexibility Programs: To reduce stiffness and improve joint range of motion
• Posture and Balance Training: To prevent falls and correct deformities
• Activity Modification and Education: Safe, activity-specific advice to minimise fracture risk