Paget's can be hard to diagnose. It can be confused with arthritis, osteoporosis, spinal stenosis, or other changes that come with age. Some people only find out they have it because of an X-ray or blood test taken for a different reason.
To see if you have Paget's disease of bone, your doctor will examine you and ask questions about your family history. They'll want pictures taken of your bones, because a bone with Paget's will look larger and thicker than usual. It can look like it didn't grow right.