Paget’s disease is medical condition which affects the body’s normal repair and renewal process of bone. Throughout our lives, bone is repaired and renewed through a process known as bone remodeling. Paget’s disease is classified as a chronic condition.
2020 will see the second International Paget’s awareness day and hopes to bring a better understanding of this medical condition. Paget’s Association are releasing a video on 11th January which they really would like to see shared on social media to boost the understanding of this condition on a global scale. The video is available from 11 am. The link below will provide you with information about the research that has taken place.
https://paget.org.uk/news-events/pagets-awareness-day-2020
What is Paget’s disease?
It affects the repair and renewal process of bone. It can affect one or multiple bones and the most common sites are the spine, skull, pelvis and thigh. The disease results in abnormalities of the normal repair and renewal process. Bone affected by Paget’s could be enlarged and misshapen.
The risk of developing Paget’s will increase as you become older and is the second most common metabolic bone disease after osteoporosis.
What are the symptoms of Paget’s disease?
There is no one specific set of symptoms for Paget’s disease and pain is reportedly the most common symptom. Some people who have the condition actually may never experience any symptoms or complications. These people therefore remain unaware that they even have the disease.
How is Paget’s disease treated?
It is important to remember that not everyone who has this condition has any symptoms or needs any treatment. For people who are experiencing pain from affected bones, the treatment is often by way of Bisphosphonates. This is a drug which works by inhibiting the bone remodelling process.
A clinical Guideline, for the Diagnosis and Management of Paget’s Disease of Bone in Adults, was commissioned by the Paget’s Association and published in 2019, in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. It has been endorsed by the European Calcified Tissues Society, the International Osteoporosis Foundation, the American Society of Bone and Mineral Research, the Bone Research Society (UK), and the British Geriatric Society.
You can download the guideline here:
https://paget.org.uk/information-support/pagets-disease
The above information has all been sourced from the Paget’s Association UK website.
Private medical insurance cover
As a chronic condition, Paget’s disease is not a medical condition that would be covered under a private medical insurance policy in the UK once diagnosed. Health insurance is designed for the treatment of acute medical conditions. Most policies do not cover the routine monitoring and pain management of a condition that is deemed as chronic.
If you had a private medical insurance policy in place prior to the diagnosis of a chronic condition you would be eligible for treatment up to the point of diagnosis (within the policy benefit limits chosen) providing it was not linked to a condition already excluded on your certificate. All routine medication and assessment would then be dealt with via the NHS. Your private medical insurance policy would cover you for acute flare ups of a chronic condition subject to the terms and conditions of the policy itself.
The team at SMP Healthcare would be more than happy to provide you with further information relation to private medical insurance and the treatment of chronic conditions. If you would like to know more, please contact us:
Telephone 01245 929129/ 0800 047 0127
Email: lianne@smphealthcare.com