DEAR DR. DONOHUE: For about a year, I had nagging pain in my right hip. Then the pain spread to my pelvic area. I had to beg my doctor for an X-ray. I have a plan where cost savings has the final word. The doctor relented, and it turns out I have Paget’s disease. I am scheduled to see a specialist in a month — if all goes well. Will you give me some information now? — L.C.

A: Paget’s is an illness in which the daily, well-synchronized process of bone demolition and bone rebuilding is thrown into anarchy. Our bones renew themselves daily, at least partly. A section of bone breaks down, and then that section is rebuilt. In the first phases of Paget’s disease, the destruction process outpaces the rebuilding phase. Then rebuilding shifts into overdrive and lays down new but misshapen and fragile bone. This can happen in only an isolated area of bone, or it can happen in many places. The result is a deformed section of bone that is easily broken. If the newly formed and overgrown bone presses on adjacent nerves, trouble arises. Or if it encroaches on a joint, arthritis develops.

Some patients have no symptoms at all. Others, like you, have pain, and some sustain a fracture with very little trauma.

Alkaline phosphatase, something that is often included in a panel of routine blood tests, is high in Paget’s disease. It comes from bone. An X-ray or bone scan shows the Paget bone clearly.

The bones most likely to develop Paget’s disease are the pelvic bones, the spine, the skull, the arm bones and the leg bones.

The bisphosphonate drugs, the ones used for osteoporosis, also are used effectively for this condition. Fosamax (alendronate) is an example. There are others.

The best way for you to help yourself and gain knowledge about Paget’s is to contact The Paget Foundation. The foundation’s phone number is (800)-237-2438, and you can visit its Web site at www.paget.org.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: At 24, I have a mustache. It’s not attractive on a woman. I’ve been pulling the hair out by the roots, and that is not exactly fun. I was told that this causes the hair to grow back thicker. Please let me know if this is the case. If it is, I’ll stop. However, I haven’t noticed any new hair in the places I have pulled it out. — N.N.

A: Shaving or pulling out hair doesn’t stimulate hair growth or make hair thicker. Usually, it’s a disproportionate production of male hormone that causes male pattern hair growth in women. You don’t have to run to the doctor tomorrow, but you should speak to a doctor about this. If you are making too much male hormone, the specific cause has to be found so that the normal balance between female and male hormone can be established.

If you want to learn of other ways of getting rid of the hair, drop me another note. Better ways than hair-pulling exist.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Is impetigo the same as a herpes cold sore? My 4-year-old has something that looks like impetigo to me. To my mother, it’s a cold sore. How do you tell them apart? — P.G.

A: Impetigo can be just about anywhere, and it’s caused by the Staph or Strep germ. It starts as a group of small blisters that soon become covered with pus. The pus dries to form a golden-yellow crust. Impetigo happens mainly to children and most often during the hot, humid summer months. Antibiotics applied to the sore or taken by mouth often are needed to cure it.

A cold sore is a herpes virus infection. It starts out as a group of blisters on a patch of red skin and almost always is on the lips. It doesn’t have the golden crust of impetigo. A first outbreak of a cold sore can cause a fever, headache, sore mouth and sore throat. Antiviral medicines can heal cold sores more quickly, but small ones don’t call for special treatment.

Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Readers also may order health newsletters from www.rbmamall.com.

c. North America Syndicate

Comments