Avascular Necrosis, or the death of the bone, is a progressive condition. Due to the lack of proper blood supply to a part of your bone tissues, the bone may weaken and die eventually. It’s mostly seen in people between 30 and 70 but can occur at any age. See a doctor for Avascular Necrosis in Mumbai if you experience persistent pain and stiffness in your hip, knee, or shoulder joints and have a limited range of mobility.
So, how fast does avascular necrosis progress, and how can you slow it down and restore bone health? The speed of progress depends on multiple factors, including age, overall health, and how early it’s diagnosed. Let’s explore the causes, risk factors, and stages of the disease.
Causes and Risk Factors
a) Injury:
An accident that causes joint dislocation or a severe injury can damage the surrounding blood vessels and interrupt blood flow to the affected bones and joints. AVN, due to trauma, tends to progress rapidly as the damage is intense.
b) Diseases and Treatment:
Cancer treatment, such as radiation therapy, can also affect your blood circulation to the area, making you more prone to AVN.
c) Lifestyle:
Continuous use of steroids and excess alcohol consumption are also linked to an increased risk of Avascular Necrosis. However, the damage is slow compared to that in an injury-related AVN.
Stages of Avascular Necrosis
AVN is categorized into different stages, including:
i) Pre-Collapse Stage:
The X-ray shows no issues with the bone. It’s hard to diagnose the condition, as patients don’t feel pain or any noticeable symptoms of Avascular Necrosis.
ii) Early Collapse:
At this point, you start to feel pain, discomfort, and stiffness. Pain can be mild or severe when you put extreme pressure on the affected joint. The damage is visible on X-rays and other imaging tests. The bone starts weakening, although it hasn’t completely collapsed.
iii) Advanced Stage:
The lack of blood flow to the joint results in the cell dying. The pain gets intense and can be felt even when you are resting. It’s hard to move or use the collapsed joint. It’s considered an advanced stage of osteoarthritis.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
It may take weeks and months for the symptoms of AVN to be noticeable. At the early stages of Avascular Necrosis, it’s common for people to experience no symptoms. You may not know you have it until it reaches the early collapse stage. Here are a few symptoms that may point to progressing AVN:
- Pain when lifting something
- Limited mobility
- Increased pain that persists even while lying down (more common at an advanced stage)
- Difficulty walking, climbing stairs, and practicing other movements
- Limping
X-rays and MRIs are the most common imaging tests to diagnose Avascular Necrosis and determine how much it has progressed.
Treatment Options
Avascular necrosis treatment in Mumbai includes rest, NSAIDs, physical therapy to improve range of motion, and walking aids. AVN at an advanced stage requires core decompression, a surgical procedure that improves blood flow to your joints. Joint replacement surgery is your last resort if none of the above treatment options work.
