Osteonarcosis

[Mags72]

After my last post about my GP saying I had possible nerve damage and prescribing Gabapentin. I broke my hip over a year ago and have a plate and screw in. I've been having a lot of pain with it the last few weeks. Went for x-ray and everything looks fine? The hospital now think I have Osteonecrosis ( where the blood supply is cut off to the affected bone and it dies?) Does anyone have this?

[johnsmith]

Osteonecrosis is a disease caused by reduced blood flow to bones in the joints. In people with healthy bones, new bone is always replacing old bone. In osteonecrosis, the lack of blood causes the bone to break down faster than the body can make enough new bone. The bone starts to die and may break down.

You say : "Went for x-ray and everything looks fine?" I am puzzled. X-ray would not look fine as there is a loss of bone density.

You say: "The hospital now think I have Osteonecrosis". Is this because of the pain? Is this because bone density scans have been done and a problem shows up?

See a McTimony chiropractor. There is the possibility that there is a tight muscle pulling on bone causing pain and discomfort. Undoing tight muscle will also increase blood supply. It is is worth investigating. I have had tight muscle causing pain in the bone.

[katieoxo60]

Hello, sounds like you are having a bad time. The diagnosis that has been adviced by the hospital sounds strange, if your xrays are clear. Some people do take longer to get over this type of operation and muscles are effected so I would follow the advice below and seek help incase it is your muscles, first. Although some doctors are offering pills to help strenghten bones where there has been a break causing weakness, even though you may have good Xray results. The Hospital may want to keep an eye on it as you are still in pain. Good Luck Hope the Gabapentin helps the pain, as it could be a nerve too only time will tell.

[Mags72 in reply to katieoxo60]

Thanks for your advice, yeah the x-rays are confusing!! As you say time will tell, it's just getting all these "maybes" that's stressful.

[katieoxo60 in reply to Mags72]

Oh how I agree , even with a straight forward thing like a broken bone from fall theres always ifs and buts. Osteonecrosis is not usually suspected unless you have had several broken bones often without severe fall, just like osteoporosis. You do need to be careful if a bone has past break weakness as any fall could result in another break so take care. Arthritis can occur in bones with previous accident record. Sorry but I feel patients should have the facts so they can try to help themselves, rather than be stressed out about what they have not got. I also think that weak muscles that give ongoing pain should at least be investigated as many things can cause pain. Best wishes ,take care and hope it is just due to long recovery not another illness.

[Dumyatlad]

I broke my hip in ‘95 and was told I had a 50/50 chance of the blood supply restoring itself, I lost out on the toss, it’s called femoral necrosis, now 20 years later I’m on my third replacement (also due to other factors) but was in considerable pain throughout most of that time. Tried all the drugs and got some relief short term, one thing that really helped was acupuncture. It gave relief for two -three weeks each treatment, well worth a try

[Mags72 in reply to Dumyatlad]

Thank you.

[Mags72 in reply to Dumyatlad]

God you've been through the mill. I'm hoping it's not that. GP thinks nerve damage but I think the all over pain I get could be a mixture of the bones and nerves. Thanks again.

[Mclj]

Hi Mags72, your post caught my eye as I am on my third hip replacement. I had a fall in January 2018 and suffered multiple fractures around my hip prosthetic stem. I had surgery that included a new stem and ball plus a claw plate under my IT band and 9 cerclage cables to hold it all together so the fractures could heal. I was in so much pain for 8 months. I was placed on oxycontin, gabapentin, and baclofen. I was still in pain. My leg length difference got progressively worse during this time. Finally, my X-rays looked good and showed healing of the fractures and the new stem looked fine. I had surgery for removal of the extra plate and cables and low and behold they found the new stem was loose and never adhered to my bone due to blood flow and traumas of 2 injuries and 4 prior surgeries. They cemented a new stem and replaced the ball again. I was up and walking the very next day. The difference was amazing. They never considered my symptoms and the possibility the stem was loose.

Long story short version is X-rays do not show the whole picture, doctors don’t always listen to pain complaints and look at us as drug seekers and we have to be advocates for our medical care. I will be weaning off all of my medications since they found and fixed the cause of my pain.

[Mags72 in reply to Mclj]

Thank you for replying. I'm glad your not in so much pain now. I'm really uncertain about how this is all going to pan out, I'm sure there will be operations some where down the line! I have the hospital in 2weeks and hopefully get more insight into what's wrong. Agree don't think they realise how much pain a person can be in! I'm constantly sore and even worse sitting/ getting up and my stairs are a nightmare. Just want it all sorted.