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Avascular Necrosis is caused by lack of natural cortisone
I messed my back up in an accident 9 years ago, I was referred by the surgeon to Michigan Pain Management Consultants in Southfield, Michigan back in 2016. The doctor told me I couldn't just be prescribed pills, but the therapy didn't take, so he suggested nerve and pain blockers ( shots ). We trust our healthcare providers to know about what they're prescribing us. The medication I was given for 8 years shouldn't have exceeded 2 - 3 years. Well the doctor that initiated the treatment procedure retired, and turned the office over to his business partners John Traylor, and J.Kimpson. I asked Traylor would he be continuing Kirkuac's regiment, he stated he would not. Well I am now just being prescribed Oxycodone and the pain is returning worst as if the accident just happened. Went to Sinai to find out why the pain is so bad, they stated nothing was wrong, NO test imaging. 3 mos. later my left side is locking and giving out, so I go to Henry Ford ER, and again NO imaging, they say nothing is wrong. 5 mos. later, wake up and can't stand on my on, rushed to Harper hospital, they ran CT scans, MRI and Ultrasound, I have diagnosed with AVASCULAR NECROSIS. THIS OCCURRED BE CAUSE THE PAIN MGMT. ABRUPTLY CUT THE CORTICOSTEROIDS THEY WERE MANUALLY INJECTING, WHICH REPLACED THE CORTISONE OUR BODY NATURALLY PRODUCE, NO DOCTOR WOULD DO A WRECK LESS STUNT LIKE THIS , BUT YET TRAYLOR DID. I CANNOT WALK ON MY OWN, I WAS JUST RIDING BIKES TO BELLE ISLE 3 YEARS AGO. 60 YEARS OLD, AND MY DAYS ARE SPENT ON A COUCH FROM AWAKE TO SLEEP TIME. DEAD BONE DISEASE IS THE WORST, AND IT'S REAL.
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I was diagnosed with Avascular Necrosis in 1996. I had a surgical procedure called a Core Decompression. I was told it was a "stopgap" measure & in the future, I would need a hip replacement. I did have/need a hip replacement in 1999. Perhaps this is something you could discuss with your physician/surgeon. Wishing you comfort.
Melane
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/avascular-necrosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20369859
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/avascular-necrosis
I had avascular necrosis in both hips. I get bone grafts every so often. They remve the AVN the do a Bone grafts. You never should have gotten regular cortisone doses. That is a side effect of cortisone. Make sure you pick a doctor that specializes in AVN. The first orthopedic surgeon lied to me and the implant failed because he didn’t remove the AVN and do the bone graft. My left hip replaced four times and actebulum fractured.
It is caused by high doses of cortisone. Being asthmatic I am put on high does of cortisone. There are several articles why not to take cortisone.
Thank you so much for warning people out here about the very REAL danger of cortisone.
Am so very sorry you have had this experience, and be so young.
There HAS to be some doctor out there specializing in your debility. I will go read research articles on it today and get back with you on orthopedic docs who authored those research articles specifically on your condition, so as to give you a place to start finding a new doc.
God bless and keep you. Hang in there.
jdgreend40 After reading just a few published research articles regarding spinal avascular necrosis, I discovered that your condition seems to be very rare.
The first thing is your diagnosis. Who diagnosed it and was it accurate?
I ask this because: from research reading, I discovered that because you have a fairly rare condition, if it is what the doctors have diagnosed it as; but it CAN be misdiagnosed.
It may not be spinal avascular necrosis, but could be a RARE bone marrow necrosis due to a rare malignancy. Discovered this fact by a research article from Yale.
One specialist who may be capable of differentiating the two from each other (rule out a rare bone malignancy in you) is "Dr. Jeffery Ross", low and behold, at Mayo in Phoenix, AZ. He is a NEURO radiologist. I researched his background and he is distinguished in that he has at least 165 scientific publication contributions from 1984-July 2025. He works in neuro involved cancers and specializes in complex cancers and conditions of the nervous system. If it were me or a loved one, I would contact that office in Phoenix and email this neuroradiologist, who has YEARS of experience.
From there, ONCE you made sure you have a good diagnosis, ask HIM which spinal orthopedic doc he would recommend. He will likely come up with 3-4, or his assistants will. And do not take referrals just "in house" but ask for someone he/they know who works in another renowned institution on spinal surgeries.
You are young.
Get the diagnosis 100% correct first.
Keep us posted.
NOTE:
My intuition as a medical person and knowing risk management, you should not have been given cortisone for so long - unless you absolutely refused - for years - any other therapy offered.
The new doctors who took over your case from your old doctor may or may not have handled your situation the best way, either...I do not know on that front.
I do know you may want to find a lawyer for malpractice due to the length of time your old doc kept you on corticosteroid shots - UNLESS you refused treatment over the years.
Still: get your diagnosis re-confirmed via the Mayo Clinic doc in Phoenix, or some other place of your choice - and yes, they possible could or should do a trans spinal biopsy of the necrosis to confirm. That is how brain cancer works, they diagnose on radiology and usually follow up with a biopsy of the necrotic lesion(s).
How DID they diagnose your condition? Only radiology pics? Am not versed on how accurate those are on spinal pics.
Gotta go...keep us posted, let me know if you have questions, need your feedback.