Bones are living, growing tissues made mostly of a protein called collagen. In addition to collagen, bones are also made of calcium. Throughout life, bones go through a process called remodeling. This process involves the breaking down of old bone tissue and the creation of new bone tissue. During this remodeling process, most bone diseases tend to happen.
Osteoporosis
According to the National Health Institutes, 10 million Americans have this disease and 34 million more are at risk due to low bone density. At least 68 percent of these cases are women. Osteoporosis is the most common disease that affects bones. This disease slowly deteriorates bone tissue and causes low bone mass. Bones become so weak that the common symptoms are a fracture of the hip, wrist or vertebra.
The best way to diagnose osteoporosis is by taking a dual X-ray image. These images have less radiation than a normal X-ray, but provide more details about bone density.
Paget's Disease
Paget's disease disrupts the normal process of breaking down and rebuilding bone. This disease causes your bones to become fragile and deformed. Paget's disease typically affects the skull, arms, legs, pelvis and spine. Common symptoms are joint pain and nerve damage due to the enlarged bones pressing on nerves.
Bone scans are the best method for diagnosing Paget's disease. They can determine the extent of the disease and which bones are affected. According to the Mayo Clinic, bone scans consist of radiation tracers being injected into your body. A special camera detects the radiation once it's absorbed by the bones.
Other Bone Diseases
In addition to Paget's disease and osteoporosis, several other diseases also attack the bones. Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a genetic disease that causes bones to break easily. At least eight different types of this disease exist, ranging from mild to severe. Bone cancer is another devastating disease that involves the growth of tumors within the bones. These tumors end up destroying normal bone tissue. Several other types of cancer affect bone marrow, cartilage tissue and osteoid tissue.
Other prevalent bone diseases are Proteus syndrome, which is atypical growth of the bones; scoliosis, which is a deformity of the spine; and various forms of arthritis that break down joints' cartilage or cause inflammation within the joint. Treatment for these diseases typically involves surgery to try and correct abnormalities and repair damage.
Diagnosis
In addition to previously mentioned methods of testing, doctors can also use the following methods to diagnose bone diseases. The alkaline phosphatase test is a blood test that detects high levels of this compound, which is produced by newly forming bone cells. Higher amounts of this substance could lead to possible bone deformities. The standard X-ray can show any surface-level abnormalities such as fractures. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) can provide a detailed look at the joint and determine if there are any structural problems with the joint, ligaments or cartilage.
Doctors can also monitor your calcium levels and review your family history to keep an eye out for any possible red flags, such as calcium deficiencies or a family history of bone diseases.
Treatment
Treatments for bone diseases can range from mild to severe. Mild treatments involve changes in diets and exercising more. Additional calcium and Vitamin D can help strengthen the bones. Exercise helps develop bone mass. Some medications can range from mild to severe depending on the side effects. Biophosphonates are very common and help to increase bone density. They also have very little side effects, if any. But medications such as Calcitonin can cause severe nausea and can actually cause a quick redevelopment of the disease once you stop taking the medication.
The most severe form of treatment involves surgery. In the case of bone cancer, bone transplants or removal are necessary to stop the spread of the cancer or to replace the tissue that already has been destroyed.
