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Dealing with avascular necrosis, is one of the hardest and most debilitating conditions. I should know, I lived with it for 18 years. Since writing about how I'd been living with avascular necrosis, I've had an overwhelming number of people reach out to me about it asking questions about dealing with it.
Questions regarding what to eat, how to work out, lose weight, what supplements to take. The questions have been numerous and if anything, it's opened my eyes to the number of people dealing with this debilitating condition. While I did live with avascular necrosis for 18 years and lost 80 pounds with it, I no longer have the condition.
In September 2016, I had a robotic anterior (front approach) hip replacement as outpatient surgery. It went so well, I was in the gym within days of the surgery. I've never felt better in my life. If I had to go back, I would do the surgery sooner because it gave me my life back. I plan to write more about my hip replacement soon, but today I'm focusing on dealing with avascular necrosis. I highlighted a few tips below. Watch the video for more details and tips!
Disclaimer - the advice in this post is general advice. It's not intended to treat or diagnose. As a health care professional, I cannot give individual medical advice unless you are a patient of mine. This is for legal reasons and to protect your health. I am NOT an orthopedic doctor. DO NOT send me your x-rays or medical information. I CANNOT provide you with specific advice even if you sign up for a consult.
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Stay Active
Stay active as much as is comfortable for you and without aggravating your condition. This takes some trial and error to figure out. If you can't walk, stand or are in a wheelchair, do movements with your arms. Anything that keeps you moving is better than nothing.
For me, swimming, pilates, biking and weight training worked for me and for some time, walking was fine until I got closer to my surgery when the pain was unbearable. I worked with a personal pilates trainer to work on range of motion, stability and strength. She taught me things that I never would have known to do to keep my bad leg strong. Working with her and staying active on my own helped me manage the pain, and have a better outcome with surgery.
Pain Management
Pain management is key with any condition. For a long time, curcumin worked very well for me. In my opinion, it's one of the best natural pain supplements on the market. Anyone who I've known with an arthritic condition, has had success with taking it. Once I got closer to my surgery, I took Celebrex with it and together they both did a good job of helping me deal with the pain.
I also did acupuncture treatments here and there to help. For me, the acupuncture session always helps the most. After that, it doesn't seem to do as much but it's always something you can consider because everyone reacts different.
Natural Supplements
Collagen was one supplement I took and I still take it to this day. It's one of the only supplements that has been scientifically shown to improve bone and joint health. I am probably in the minority when it comes to nutrition practitioners because I do not take many supplements, but collagen is one that I hands down cannot recommend enough especially for those dealing with avascular necrosis. Your bones and joints need it.
For dealing with inflammation, I also recommend a pharmaceutical grade fish oil supplement. In my opinion, everyone should be taking fish oil. It's high in omega-3 which everyone needs more of in their diet to maintain a healthy heart. Like I said, omega-3 also reduces inflammation so for those dealing with avascular necrosis it's something to consider.
Diet
Diet is the #1 question I receive from readers. Because I am a nutrition practitioner, this is tricky because I cannot legally give specific advice unless individuals are under my care. Here's general advice that can apply to anyone.
Pay attention to hunger signals and determine if it's a true hunger craving, or an emotional craving. It's easy to eat your emotions while you're dealing with an illness. The hard truth is you need to watch your weight when dealing with avascular necrosis. Extra weight puts extra stress on the joints causing increased pain.
Eating lots of vegetables, high fiber, high protein and increased omega-3 foods is recommended. Avoid snacking and focus on eating meals that keep you pull meal to meal. Watch portion sizes and consider tracking your food if your goal is to lose weight. Remember 80% or more of your body composition is what you eat, not what you do.
I hope this was helpful. For more tips and details, watch the video!
Related:
Living With Avascular Necrosis
Too Young For A Hip Replacement
What To Expect Recovering From A Hip Replacement
Disclaimer – the advice in this post is general advice. It’s not intended to treat or diagnose. As a health care professional, I cannot give individual medical advice unless you are a patient of mine. This is for legal reasons and to protect your health. I am NOT an orthopedic doctor. DO NOT send me your x-rays or medical information. I CANNOT provide you with specific advice.
Thank you for this! Do you mean that you found acupuncture helpful at the time of the session and didn’t feel the benefits after? Or that it was the most helpful thing for pain reduction?
It gave me relief after the session, but it is temporary.
Thanks for your knowledgeable information!! I have AVN in my hips and shoulders. Mine was caused by iatrogenic Cushing’s disease (long term use of steroids). Collagen peptide in my espresso has helped so much!! I also take magnesium, zinc, B-complex, D3, vitamin A, B-6, and turmeric. All these vitamins have helped so much!! I’m so thankful to hear you talk about omega 3 and fish oil, I will now seek after refrigerated fish oil. Thank you you much for hearing your positivity!!
Hi Megan, thanks for all your posts! My sister has been diagonosed with AVN recently, and I want to suggest the collagen to her. Is there a specific type of colagen you use? I've heard there are different types.
Thanks again!
Hi Suzette, the collagen I recommend is liked in the blog post. You just have to click the link in the post to get there.
Megan,
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I am 35 and have just been diagnosed with AVN of my right hip. I will find out Tuesday what surgery they are going to do to help me. I am very active and I was crushed to find out that running and playing volleyball would no longer be part of my life. I am glad to know that I can still be active in other ways though.
Thank you,
Liz
Hi Megan,
Thank you for sharing your story. It is truly inspirational. I have a couple of questions regarding your treatment. I was recently diagnosed with AVN of the hips. I am 45 years old so my orthopedist wants to delay hip replacement surgery by using bisphosphonates for a few years while monitoring for negative side-effects via x-rays and mri's. Then, after stopping the bisphsphonates , he wants me to under go core decompression surgery which he would couple with (my own) plasma infusion, during the procedure.
Were these therapies ever an option for you? Also, what our your thoughts on these two treatments for prolonging hip replacement.
Thank you,
Brigette
I did not qualify for any therapy. My bone was completely dead so I needed a hip replacement. I can't offer any thoughts as I'm not an orthopedic surgeon and have no idea what those therapies are. My best advice is get multiple opinions.
I'm just coming to terms with having AVN in my ankle after a talar neck fracture last year - your story is very inspiring and thank you for all the advice and tips you have shared. The strength and determination you show is so positive and just what needed to find right now.
Megan ... Great to just listen to you on the possibility and positivity of the illness.
You gave hope. Then example to those who is seeking.
Thanks and keep it up.