If you do not have symptoms, you may not need treatment. However, if your disease is active, you have symptoms, or you have a higher chance of developing complications, your doctor may recommend treatment. The goal of your treatment is to:
- Slow down or stop bone breakdown and formation.
- Lower the risk of complications.
- Ease bone and joint pain.
- Repair fractures.
- Correct bone deformity
Doctors can recommend several options to help treat Paget’s disease, prevent complications of the disease and promote bone health, including:
- Medications.
- Surgery.
- Exercise.
- Diet.
Treatment can help you manage your symptoms but does not cure the disease.
Medications
The primary medications your doctor may prescribe to treat Paget’s disease include:
- Bisphosphonates, which treat a variety of bone diseases. This type of medication works by controlling the excessive breakdown and formation of bone that happens in Paget’s disease.
- Calcitonin, which is a hormone made by the thyroid gland. In addition, calcitonin regulates blood levels of calcium and phosphate and promotes the formation of new bone.
Surgery
Although medications can regulate bone growth and minimize complications, surgery may be necessary to correct problems from the complications of the disease, such as:
- Fractures. Surgery may allow fractures or broken bones to heal in a better position.
- Arthritis. A hip or knee replacement may be necessary if changes in the bones cause severe disability.
- Misshapen bones. Cutting and realigning bone affected by Paget’s disease can reduce pain in a weight-bearing joint.
Diet
If you have Paget’s disease, you do not need a special diet. However, it is important that you keep your bones strong. Calcium and vitamin D are important nutrients to help maintain healthy bone. The chart below shows how much calcium and vitamin D you need each day. If you have had kidney stones, talk with your doctor about how much calcium and vitamin D to take.
Recommended Calcium and Vitamin D Intakes
Definitions: mg = milligrams; IU = International Units
Source: National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements, November 2018
| Life-stage group | Calcium mg/day | Vitamin D (IU/day) |
|---|
| Infants 0 to 6 months | 200 | 400 |
| Infants 6 to 12 months | 260 | 400 |
| 1 to 3 years old | 700 | 600 |
| 4 to 8 years old | 1,000 | 600 |
| 9 to 13 years old | 1,300 | 600 |
| >14 to 18 years old | 1,300 | 600 |
| 19 to 30 years old | 1,000 | 600 |
| 31 to 50 years old | 1,000 | 600 |
| 51- to 70-year-old males | 1,000 | 600 |
| 51- to 70-year-old females | 1,200 | 600 |
| >70 years old | 1,200 | 800 |
| 14 to 18 years old, pregnant/lactating | 1,300 | 600 |
| 19 to 50 years old, pregnant/lactating | 1,000 | 600 |
Exercise
Exercise is important because it helps:
- Build strong bones and maintain your skeletal health.
- Prevent weight gain.
- Keep joints mobile.
The best exercises for healthy bones are strength-building and weight-bearing exercises, such as:
- Walking.
- Climbing stairs.
- Lifting weights.
Before starting a new exercise plan, talk with your doctor to avoid stress on bones affected by Paget’s disease.