Avascular Necrosis Community Group
Avascular Necrosis is simply bone death. As a AVN sufferer and nurse, this group will be to inform and support.
Hi everybody! I am new to this group and will try to keep my story short ( ha ha ) to tell you how I got here.
I have Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency ( it is like Addison's disease for those of you who don't know) and I have been on steroids since 2008. They have done a number on my body...I broke my rt femur/hip in 2011..a stress fracture and had it surgically repaired ( the week of Thanksgiving actually). after a few months the doctors determined that it never healed so they planned on going back in to fix it. Five days before that surgery (Aug 15 2012) my left femur/hip broke...yup....so they repaired both at the same time and it was HELL ....2 weeks in the hospital 4 weeks in rehab and 6 weeks of horrible pain.
anyway, I will digress here...I was walking with a walker and driving in early Nov and was able to spend my mom's 83rd bday and thanksgiving with her...this was a blessing as she passed away suddenly Dec 5 2012.
2013 was a decent year...all things considered and then early 2014 was ok until it wasn't...I started having horrible pain in my left leg and it took 2 hospital stays to diagnose the AVN of my left hip....
I NEED a hip replacement but my surgeons wont do it unless I get off steroids..UGH this is the battle I am facing now..trying to get off steroids. I am at 7.5 mg/day from 10 mg/day and it is brutal. I am in constant pain and well, this is just very depressing to me.
So that is my story and how I got here...Be well!
I have Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency ( it is like Addison's disease for those of you who don't know) and I have been on steroids since 2008. They have done a number on my body...I broke my rt femur/hip in 2011..a stress fracture and had it surgically repaired ( the week of Thanksgiving actually). after a few months the doctors determined that it never healed so they planned on going back in to fix it. Five days before that surgery (Aug 15 2012) my left femur/hip broke...yup....so they repaired both at the same time and it was HELL ....2 weeks in the hospital 4 weeks in rehab and 6 weeks of horrible pain.
anyway, I will digress here...I was walking with a walker and driving in early Nov and was able to spend my mom's 83rd bday and thanksgiving with her...this was a blessing as she passed away suddenly Dec 5 2012.
2013 was a decent year...all things considered and then early 2014 was ok until it wasn't...I started having horrible pain in my left leg and it took 2 hospital stays to diagnose the AVN of my left hip....
I NEED a hip replacement but my surgeons wont do it unless I get off steroids..UGH this is the battle I am facing now..trying to get off steroids. I am at 7.5 mg/day from 10 mg/day and it is brutal. I am in constant pain and well, this is just very depressing to me.
So that is my story and how I got here...Be well!
I am so sorry to hear of your experiences, thus far. I am also saddened to hear of your mother's untimely death. Please accept my condolences. I lost my daddy in 2012. We are now approaching the 3 year anniversary of his death and it still hurts I just wanted to let you know that I understand.
On occasion there will be someone new who posts. I usually get notified but I did not get a notification in regards to you and I fell terrible that your post has gone, unnoticed, until now. Do accept my apology.
Please feel free to ask questions or let me know how I can be a support to you as you go through learning about this horrible disease.
Congrats on weaning off the steroids. I assume at this point in time, you are fully off? How will they treat your Adrenal Insufficiency now? Do they believe your AVN is due to the Prednisone or is it from trauma. AVN can be caused by any trauma to the joint. Your having broken your femur could have been what predisposed you to this horrific problem.
I do not have my AVN due to prednisone. I have a pre-existing which has left me with AVN in both shoulders, both knees, both ankles and bone infarcts in all other bones, including spine, ribs and skull. I have replaced both hips already. I pray to God that yours will not be as extensive.
All the best! Feel free to keep in touch.