Anyone with experience of avascular necrosis? Or osteoarthritis?

[harper30]

Hi all,
I might not get any response I realise, and I think what I've got is relatively rare, but I've posted before about having a bad hip post childbirth and I was fobbed off by GP with physio for 18 months but I've finally had an X-ray and MRI and it turns out I have avascular necrosis of the femoral head and it's pretty far advanced, on the X-ray it already looks like arthritis and the MRI confirmed the condition.
The Thursday before lockdown I was told I'd be contacted by the hospital to see a consultant but obviously with everything that's going on, I've not been contacted and I don't expect to be for months and that's fine.

Does anyone have experience with this that you wouldn't mind telling me about? Or anyone know someone who has it?

From googling, I'm almost certainly going to have to have a full hip replacement in the next few years but that worries me as I'm 31 and I don't think hip replacements are designed to last 40 odd years are they 😕 just worried and I obviously don't want to pester drs about it at this time.

Thanks all

[Chrestomanci3]

I know this must be really worrying, especially at present. I know someone who was diagnosed with avascular necrosis and had a total hip replacement at a similar age. She says it was the best thing that could have happened, after years of pain and being fobbed off by GPs who didn't really listen. The replacement was over 10 years ago and apart from not running and being careful of some things like yoga positions, doesn't seem to impact her life. The recovery, post-op may be difficult with a young child as they are so mobile and you wouldn't be able to carry them, she was on crutches for a while afterwards.

[harper30]

Thanks so much for replying! That is reassuring to hear thank you, I'm glad your friend had such a good experience with hip replacement.
I imagine that's the only way it's going to go for me too, even if I delay it/it's delayed while we all deal with coronavirus first.
You're right about the childcare issue, that does worry me, my daughter is very active now. I'm lucky in that normally I have a very good support network of family etc who can help. Being off work/not being able to drive for quite a while as it's my right hip worries me too.
Thanks so so much for your reply.

[Chrestomanci3]

I think all non-essential operations are on hold at the moment anyway, and waiting lists are usually an issue too. I don't mean to belittle what you are going through, but I think most planned operations are currently on hold. Although that's not ideal, if the consultant does feel that is the right option for you, you've probably got months (at the very least, probably longer) until the operation, so by then your child will be that bit older as well.

[harper30]

No I know, I can't imagine anything happening in terms of seeing the consultant much before Xmas to be honest, which is fine, I can manage, and like you said DC will be older then and more independent. I had assumed the waiting list will be mega as well, even without all of this going on and things being postponed. I'm realistically hoping to see the consultant by Xmas or the new year and maybe have actual treatment by next summer? I really don't know, I suppose no one does in these circumstances 🤷‍♀️

[Toddlerteaplease]

We had a teenager at work who had to have a full hip replacement because of it. She's doing well As far as I know. I think she was 16. It was a new experience doing a hip replacement on a children's ward.