Symptoms

Most people who have Paget's disease of bone have no symptoms. When symptoms occur, the most common complaint is bone pain.

Because this disease causes your body to generate new bone faster than normal, the rapid remodeling produces bone that's less organized and weaker than normal bone, which can lead to bone pain, deformities and fractures.

The disease might affect only one or two areas of your body or might be widespread. Your signs and symptoms, if any, will depend on the affected part of your body.

• Pelvis. Paget's disease of bone in the pelvis can cause hip pain.
• Skull. An overgrowth of bone in the skull can cause hearing loss or headaches.
• Spine. If your spine is affected, nerve roots can become compressed. This can cause pain, tingling and numbness in an arm or leg.
• Leg. As the bones weaken, they may bend — causing you to become bowlegged. Enlarged and misshapen bones in your legs can put extra stress on nearby joints, which may cause osteoarthritis in your knee or hip.

When to see a doctor

Talk to your doctor if you have:

• Pain in your bones and joints
• Tingling and weakness in an extremity
• Bone deformities
• Unexplained hearing loss, especially if it's only on one side