r/AvascularNecrosis

Hello all.

26M. I’ve been experiencing hip pain for some time, which I thought was only a hip impingement. However, I got X-rays done and this was the report-

“ Faint increased density right and left femoral head superiorly, findings which may correspond with avascular
necrosis. Otherwise no fracture lucency or periosteal elevation identified. Cam-type morphology, and correlation with FAI
symptomatology. No evidence of hip arthritis. Sacroiliac joints and pubic symphysis appear unremarkable”
Has anyone had a similar X-ray report to this? If so, what ended up being your results?

I started having hip tightness about 4 years ago. But the past year, my hips have gotten a lot worse. I’ve noticed very limited ROM internally and externally as well as the sharp pinch in the front/side of my hip crease explained by FAI. I do have a history of knee surgeries, one being an OCD lesion repair. The pain sometimes radiates down to my knees.
I worry that my symptoms also resemble AVN. I have trouble standing after sitting too long, hips and groin area feel weak, and I do have an ache in my hip crease that is mostly constant. I do feel better if I keep slight movement. If I sit still the pain worsens and stiffens. I have a slight limp after standing as well. But maybe I’m over analyzing every symptom I have now that I know it’s a possibility.
I spoke to my PA and he didn’t seem too concerned about the CAM or the possible AVN, but he’s never dealt with either of the issues. I know that an X-ray doesn’t read an AVN well but the fact that there is even a possibility of it makes me worried. I’m scheduled for an MRI in a couple weeks but I can’t stop thinking about the possibility. Any help on the Likelihood of AVN would be very appreciated.

Sorry for the long, poorly written post. Thanks

Mods, please delete and accept my apologies if not approved (and let me know what I need to change).

TLDR; I walk a lot for exercise, to the tune of 6-12 miles a day on flat streets. It helps my joint pain from the medications I was on.

How much can or should I actually be walking with AVN of my right hip (2/3 of the femoral head is affected per my MRI report) with absolutely 0 pain? Is 4 months of my meds going to bite me? Is Fosamax good or bad for my situation?

It's a long story, but I'm a breast cancer survivor (DMX skin sparing direct to implant in January, HR+, stage 1B) who was lucky enough to have not one, but 2 types of cancer (IDC and DCIS). My Oncotype was 13, so no chemo or radiation. I was on tamoxifen beginning in December, but the side effects, everything it could possibly have, I had. But the neuropathy was the deal breaker. So I was switched to Aromatase Inhibitors as I'm pre menopause; specifically monthly Lupron injections and Letrozole. Then my bone density scan came back in March, score of T -1.4, so Fosamax was added weekly. That tripled my existing side effects- mainly the joint pain in my knees, elbows, wrists, and ankles. Plus my lumbar, but that has been an issue since 2007. At the end of April I decided to upload my last spinal MRI report to my oncologist so he could see what I was dealing with. That's when I saw it.

Avascular Necrosis of the hip noted. Correlate with dedicated MRI of the hips to confirm.

My primary missed it. The pdf was 3 separate files. I missed it. I had a follow up with my primary back then in January, she said nothing. We discussed my back. The MRI results were available to us both on Dec 23, 2025. So roughly 16 months ago! I only noticed in April! I immediately messaged my primary and she said she missed it, too. Que an orthopedic referral and bilateral hip MRI, the results of which I received Thursday. I immediately stopped the Letrozole. My orthopedic appointment is June 9th. That's the soonest they can do. My oncologist is a tool and is currently getting his ass handed to him by the office manager for not replying to my messages notifying him of this and requesting guidance. I see said tool on Wednesday. And his MA quit, likely because he's a tool.

I'm freaking out. The meds I was (and kinda still am on as the Lupron injection is monthly) are terrible for bone health. Yes, I'm lucky I caught it. But what about the fosamax? It literally, albeit at a low percentage, can cause bone death (mostly in the jaw, but still). I've read so much on my own, but everyone knows Google isn't a specialized doctor. Fosamax is good and bad, depending on what you read.

Can anyone give my some guidance on my dilemma, please? I'm happy to read any linked information and appreciate any and all help. I'm falling apart over here, literally.

Sorry for the novella and thanks for reading. 💙

How much can or should I actually be walking with AVN of my right hip (2/3 of the femoral head is affected per my MRI report) with absolutely 0 pain? (The no pain scares me because I could easily cause a collapse because it doesn't hurt at all.)

Is 4 months of my anticancer meds going to bite me?

Is Fosamax good or bad for my situation?

I am not asking for medical advice. Guidance is what I need. Opinions. I understand anyone who comments is a Doctor or layperson, but is not MY doctor or medical advisor.

23M — Had my right hip replaced today due to AVN.

Honestly, the surgery went great. I’m already up and walking with a walker, and for the first time in over a year I’m actually walking correctly instead of limping. It’s honestly a crazy feeling. The deep hip pain I’ve been living with is just… gone. I do have pain in my femur from the metal rod insertion, but compared to what I was dealing with before, it feels manageable.

I’m definitely very nervous about dislocation, so I’m being EXTREMELY cautious with everything I do right now, but overall I’m genuinely happy I went through with the surgery and I feel like I’ll slowly be able to get back to living a normal life again.

I was prescribed oxycodone for pain, but I’m only taking it when absolutely necessary and I’m hoping I won’t need it at all by day 3 if recovery keeps going this well.

I mainly wanted to make this post because a month ago I was constantly searching Reddit reading every hip replacement/AVN post I could find because I was terrified and looking for support. Honestly, I was still scared this morning — I cried before going into surgery. So if anyone reading this is dealing with AVN or facing a hip replacement and feeling scared, I just want you to know it really does get better, and the surgery itself was nowhere near as bad as I built it up to be in my head.

Also, I want to genuinely thank everyone on Reddit who shared their surgery experiences openly. Reading those posts and comments really did help calm me down and made me feel a lot less alone going into this.

I also didn’t have the typical “gas” anesthesia. They used a spinal nerve block to numb everything from the waist down and then gave me IV sedation so I slept through the surgery while breathing on my own. From what I was told, it’s generally considered safer that way.

My surgeon used the anterior approach and went in from the front.

And honestly… I’m weirdly excited for sock day now lol.

Just wanted to put something positive out there for anyone doom-scrolling like I was a month ago.

I am 3.5 weeks post op anterior hip replacement and both ends of my incision are not fully closed and when I put a non adhesive pad on it I end up with small amounts of fluid on the pads.

Anyone out there experience this after three weeks? My antibiotics have been extended and the drainage is a light yellow, and again a very small amount.

I have seen an overwhelming amount of support for THR on this subreddit. My significant others doctor strongly pushed for core decompression (stage 2 hip). Their reasoning to not do THR was that he would need multiple through his life and each time the result would be less effective. He got the CD done and we are only 6 weeks out but he keeps voicing concerns about pain when he isn’t on crutches. Any success stories to help feel better about this choice?

I am currently on maternity leave but will be returning back to work soon. My job is on a manufacturing floor helping people with disabilities assemble products. This job involves lifting heavy boxes and being on my feet all day. Has anyone had any trouble working on a work floor with AVN in their hips? I’m not looking forward to going back with how much pain I’m in.

My brother, who is 55 years old, has been diagnosed with bilateral AVN in femur head. The doctors said it is between Stage 2 and Stage 3, although they were unable to specify the exact stage. The cause of the AVN is still unknown.

We consulted Dr. Sunil Tuli and then visited Dr. Sujoy Bhattacharjee at Max Hospital, Delhi. Unfortunately, Dr. Sujoy was one of the worst doctors I have encountered in my life. He was very rude, had zero bedside manners, and seemed bothered by our presence in his room.

Many people have told us that core decompression (CD) may not have a high success rate, and that total hip replacement (THR) could be the better option. We visited Dr. Sujoy because we were considering surgery with him for my brother if everything goes well, but we left very disappointed with our experience with him.

Could anyone please suggest the best doctor for bilateral AVN for THR? Also, should we consider core decompression with OSSGROW bone cell therapy, or would that just be a waste of time and money?

I’m F,26 and have had ulcerative colitis since I was a kid. For years I was on really high‑dose steroids – including repeated 1000 mg IV prednisolone pulses and long courses of 60–100 mg orally with slow tapers. I ended up steroid‑dependent with adrenal issues, and only got onto biologics later.

In 2022 I had an MRI of my hips because of right‑sided hip pain. The report described “popcorn‑like” signal changes in both proximal femurs (right worse than left), interpreted as older bone infarcts/osteonecrosis in the context of long‑term steroids, plus some bursitis/tendinosis.

When I talked to the doctor, they basically said the AVN/bone infarcts were an incidental finding and not really relevant – nothing to worry about. No plan for follow‑up imaging, no DXA, no real discussion about steroid‑related bone damage. The main message was: do some physio, it’s probably more functional.

Since then my hip and leg pain have clearly gotten worse despite regular strength training and physio whenever I’m not sick from immunosuppression. Walking, standing and lying on my right side are all more painful now, and looking back, the AVN on MRI doesn’t feel “incidental” at all.

I’m currently trying to get updated scans and a proper work‑up from rheumatology/orthopedics that actually takes the AVN seriously.

Has anyone else with steroid‑induced AVN been told early MRI findings were “incidental” or “nothing to worry about”, only to have things progress later? How did you get doctors to listen, and what ended up helping you the most once AVN was finally treated as a real part of the problem?

(I used AI to structure the post, wanted to mention this for transparency reasons)

I previously broke my hip 5 years ago from a fall. I had my hip pinned. Everything was great untilI I accidentally slammed my hip with the car door last month. I went to the ER a few days later and they diagnosed me with AVN. I am 4 months pp. I have no idea if this was caused by my previous injury, the car door, or being pregnant but some days my hip hurts so bad and I don’t know how I can keep up with my baby. This really stinks. Doctor is having me wait it out a few months before we decide on a THR. I just really needed a place to vent. Thanks for listening if you made it this far.

I got an MRI awhile back after walking a year on my leg and it turned out to be a femoral fracture and avn. I think the only way I was able to manage was by drinking out the pain. It’s kind of what probably got me here to begin with.

I don’t know why, but I started panicking a couple hours ago about this whole situation. I think it’s the idea of having to report my condition to my family. I guess I didn’t consider it a “disease”, until someone in this thread mentioned it.

I want to know if anyone else has had a drinking problem while dealing with AVN. I know it’s one of the main indicators of this AVN, but does anyone know why? I’m not looking for someone to tell me to seek sobriety, so please spare your words.

I’m just wondering if anyone here with AVN has dealt with this condition and had alcohol be an actual noticeable component to this condition. I can’t see to find anyone talk about alcohol and AVN.

After 7 IV doses of prednisone (1000mg) in the hospital, and almost 20 days of tapering oral prednisone (from 40 mg down to 30 mg now) I suddenly developed pain in both hips when touched and while walking. It feels like a severe muscle soreness after intense exercise. What are the chances that avascular necrosis has started? Has anyone developed necrosis this quickly?

Hi everyone,

I (29, F) after getting my Core Decompression of bilateral hip joints 4 years back, finally took a decision to go for THP, I have my appointment with one of the surgeons this Friday.

As I deal with a lot of medical anxiety, I am trying to make a questionnaire consisting of all the questions that I should be asking the surgeons beforehand only. As I want to go forward with the surgery under the best surgeon possible.

Some of my questions include days of recovery and restrictions post surgery but I wanna ask YOU! The ones who have already been through it:

Can you tell me some important questions which I need to ask my surgeon before going for the surgery?
Any information about the implant’s material, what all to expect in the recovery or anything which you guys can tell me will help me a lot.

Thank you