Avascular Necrosis
What is Avascular Necrosis?
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.
Symptoms
Avascular necrosis typically causes pain and reduced range of motion in the affected joint. The most common joints affected by avascular necrosis include:

• Hip. In addition to pain in the hip joint itself, pain also may radiate into your groin or go down your thigh to your knee.


• Knee. In avascular necrosis of the knee, the pain occurs most often on the inside of the knee and worsens with activity.


• Shoulder. Several bones come together at the shoulder, but the one most commonly affected by avascular necrosis is the upper arm bone.

Some people experience avascular necrosis bilaterally — for example, in both hips or in both knees. Signs and symptoms may appear suddenly if caused by an injury. In other cases, the pain and stiffness may build up slowly over several months. Some people with avascular necrosis experience no symptoms at all.
Other joints that are affected by avascular necrosis include:

• Ankles


• Feet


• Hands


• Jaw


• Spine


• Wrists

Causes

• Joint injury


• Narrowed blood vessels


• Pressure inside the bone

Western medicine treatments
The treatment goal for avascular necrosis is to prevent further bone loss. What treatment you receive depends on the amount of bone damage you already have. Early stages of avascular necrosis may benefit from more conservative treatment, while later stages may require surgery.
Medications

• Anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve the pain and inflammation associated with avascular necrosis.

Therapy

• Rest


• Exercises


• Electrical stimulation  

Surgery  

• Bone transplant


• Bone reshaping


• Joint replacement

 
 
 
Alternative Medicine
Alternative Medicine: There is a significant progress using alternative medicine
in this area. If you want a recommendation of an expert alternative medicine
practitioner in your local area, please use Wei Laboratories’ free referral
service by calling toll-free at 1-888-919-1188, or e-mail to [email protected].
For more information, please visit Wei Laboratories’ web site at
www.weilab.com.