As is probably the case with most that initially come to this site, I was hoping to read about others with similar experiences with AVN. It's hard for me to believe that I've been stricken with this ailment, and even harder to believe how it came about. As I read about so many others that used steroids that resulted in their condition, I too believe that they caused mine. The problem with my case is that it was most likely caused by a one-time prescribed "dose pak" for inner ear inflammation. While I was at the tail end of the prescription, I had a severe reaction and had to go the ER as I was in tremendous pain in all of my joints. My hips were so painful that I couldn't walk for four days. All that they could determine at the time is that is was a reaction to the methyprednisalone that I was prescribed. Naturally they told me that I should be OK once the steroids were out of my system, but about 18 months later, I started having my hip pain. My Doctor questioned the steroid connection, but also checked my medical records and did a little research and said chances were pretty good that it did cause the AVN. Yes, he did ask me if I drink and I said that I do, but not enough to be the culprit here. Steroids may do some really good things for people, but if you don't really need them, NEVER take them.

Well, now that I've been diagnosed with bilateral AVN with an asymptomatic left hip but a chronic right hip, my surgery is scheduled for June 18th. My Doc misdiagnosed initially and then went conservative and basically wasted 4 months of my time having me on crutches most of the time. My right hip is staged at a Ficat IIb and the femoral head in intact. As my Doc is young and aggressive, he feels pretty cocky about actually reversing my AVN. He makes no promises, but says his success rate is 85%+ in stage II and under and he uses a new technique that no one is talking about here. He utilizes a tool call the Xream from Wright Medical Technologies which is inserted into the femoral head after it has been drilled. Once inside, the tool expands at the end and further debrides the necrotic bone lesion. Kind of like a roto-rooter, I guess. Then, after irrigating out all of the bone matter, he utilizes a new triphasic bone graft called "Pro-dense", also from Wright Medical. Having gone to their website and reviewing all of the clinical trial information and white papers, this stuff appears to to showing tremendous success in allowing the femoral head or other bones to grow new dense bone faster than with other previous grafts. It hardens quickly when placed into the created defect. Once placed inside, it provides support and ultimately creates a scaffolding for the new bone to grow and absorb the grafting material over time. At this point all I can do is hope it works. If anyone has had this technique used on them, please reply back and let everyone know of your experience. Otherwise, I will let you all know how I progress after the procedure and whether it is successful. If it is, my left hip will be done down the road. Good luck to everyone else going down the same path.