When symptoms such as stiff joints and fatigue occur, they usually develop slowly and subtly. Bone pain, enlargement, or deformity may occur. Bone pain may be deep, aching, and occasionally severe and may worsen at night. The enlarging bones may compress nerves, adding to the pain. Sometimes Paget's disease leads to the development of painful osteoarthritis in adjacent joints.
Symptoms vary, depending on which bones are affected.
The skull may enlarge, and the brow and forehead may look more prominent. A person may notice this enlargement when a larger-size hat is needed. The vertebrae may enlarge, weaken, and buckle, resulting in loss of height. Damaged vertebrae may pinch the nerves of the spinal cord, causing numbness, tingling, weakness, or even paralysis in the legs. People whose hip or leg bones are affected may have bowed legs and take short, unsteady steps.