Jun 09 2010
Avascular Necrosis
Yesterday Christian had a routine clinic appointment at UCLA. Coincidentally he had started feeling a little sick two days before. Turns out he may have Sinusitis again. Now is more prone to getting sinus infections which he is not happy about.
Christian has been having ankle pain for months now and he recently started complaining of pain in his hip. The Dr. said that he’s at a point after transplant where the pain should be diminishing, not increasing. He said an M.R.I. would help determine if he has Avascular Necrosis. We are waiting for insurance authorization so the M.R.I. can be A.S.A.P.
If the M.R.I. comes back negative he would only require physical therapy.
If it comes back positive he would require surgery.
I had no idea how serious this disease is until I researched it last night. It left me in tears because he’s had several of the treatments that are causing factors of Avascular Necrosis.
Once again we ask for your prayers, so that this dibilitating disease does not attack our son.Â
 The following info is from the MayoClinic.com website:
Avascular necrosis is the death of bone tissue due to a lack of blood supply. Also called osteonecrosis, avascular necrosis can lead to tiny breaks in the bone and the bone’s eventual collapse.
The blood flow to a section of bone can be interrupted if the bone is fractured or the joint becomes dislocated. Avascular necrosis is also associated with long-term use of high-dose steroid medications and excessive alcohol intake.
The most common joint affected by avascular necrosis is the hip. Avascular necrosis worsens with time, so managing it is a lifelong process.
 Avascular necrosis occurs when blood flow to a bone is interrupted or reduced, which may be caused by:
Procedures can increase risk
Several types of medical procedures can weaken bones, making it easier for you to develop avascular necrosis. Examples include:
- Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation
- Dialysis, a process to clean the blood after kidney failure
- Kidney and other organ transplants
Avascular necrosis that goes untreated will continue causing deterioration of the bone. Eventually the bone may become weakened enough that it collapses, causing pain and disability. Letting your avascular necrosis go untreated could lead to severe pain and loss of movement within two to five years.