Avascular Necrosis (AVN) is a bone disease in which the blood supply to your bones is reduced or cut off completely, causing them to weaken over time and eventually die. If the condition affects your weight-bearing joint, there’s a chance the bone might collapse, leading to deformity. Surgical treatment is needed in severe cases of avascular necrosis, but an orthopedic surgeon in Mumbai may first discuss non-surgical options. Here are some non-invasive treatment options for AVN that might help.
Non-surgical Treatment Options for Avascular Necrosis
Here’s what the doctor may recommend:
Medication
Anti-inflammatory and pain-relief medications can help reduce inflammation and pain, thus offering significant relief. In the early stages of AVN, an orthopedic doctor can consider medication to slow bone degeneration. In some cases, blood thinners may be recommended if blood clotting has caused AVN.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is necessary to improve mobility and reduce pressure on the affected joint by strengthening the surrounding muscles. The right physical exercises can also improve blood flow to the dying bone tissues without overloading them.
Do not start exercises without a therapist’s advice or until an orthopedic expert says they are safe. Typically, low-impact exercises, such as walking and swimming, are recommended for patients with AVN.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)
Another non-surgical treatment for AVN, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT), requires you to sit in a pressurized chamber where you get pure oxygen. Your lungs get more oxygen, which is then passed through the bloodstream to the areas with poor blood supply. The extra oxygen improves circulation, which in turn, promotes overall healing.
Lifestyle Changes
Simple lifestyle changes can positively impact your bone health and may even slow AVN (if it’s in its early stage). Focus on your diet, especially on your intake of calcium, vitamin D, and antioxidants.
Quit alcohol and smoking, as both are linked to worsening AVN by restricting blood flow to your bones. You must also reduce weight (if your BMI is high) to lower the pressure on your joints.
When is Surgery Needed?
Unfortunately, the above non-surgical options are only effective for patients diagnosed with early-stage avascular necrosis. If the disease has progressed to a point where your bone has or is about to collapse, a surgical AVN treatment in Mumbai may be needed. Here’s what may help:
Core Decompression: This minimally invasive surgery drills small holes into the affected bone to introduce new channels for blood circulation. This slows AVN progression.
Osteotomy: Your surgeon may cut and reshape the affected bone to reduce pressure on it. It can help preserve your joints for some time.
Joint Replacement: If AVN has progressed to an advanced stage where the bone has collapsed and the joint is damaged, joint replacement might be your only option. It replaces the damaged bones and joints with implants.
Through non-surgical treatments, your doctor’s goal is to slow the disease’s progression, improve blood flow to the affected bone tissues, reduce pain & stiffness, and improve your mobility. Note that the dead bone tissues can’t be revived through this approach.
