Has anyone else been diagnosed with avascular necrosis? (death of a bone) My rheumy said yesterday that it is probably from long term prednisone use (I've been on pred for 14 years). I have it in my knee and ankle. He says knee and ankle replacements are the only options. Are more bone going to die also? Has anyone else had this happen?
thanks,
pat
OMG! Pat; that sounds horrible. I've heard how dangerous long term predisone use could be; but I hadn't actually heard of this! Bless your heart. I don't know; but I'm sure someone else will be able to help.
Welcome to AI. Do you have RA? Have you been on predisone for 14 years straight? Or just occational use?
I really would like to hear more about this condition. This is something that could easily be the case with so many of us here.
Trish, that's terrible news. It is a big problem with long term Pred use and this is one of the things I get warned about all the time. But every time I try to go down, another doctor wants to bump it back up. I'm surprised they never mentioned it as a possibility before. It can affect more than one bone, but don't know how often that happens. I met a woman with Lupus recently that had it. She was in the hospital for pneumonia which seemed a much bigger concern for her. Hers was in her leg bone but nowhere else. Oh, my heart does go out to you because those are harder surgeries to do. I'm really, really sorry you got this news. I'll be praying for you. Trish I am so sorry. It kind of bothered me that my Dr would not let me have Prednisone and I see now that she was so right. I hope the replacements go well for you.
Trish,
My sister has Lupus and has been on pred for 18 years. She developed Avascular Necrosis in her hip and 1 knee and she has had them both replaced.
It is now a little in her ankle. She has done better since the replacement surgery and can now get around much better and the "bone crunching" bone pain is no longer there.
I am so sorry to here this development and hope your docs will be able to help you.
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