Osteonecrosis (AVN) is bone tissue death due to disrupted blood supply. It often affects hips, shoulders, knees, and ankles, leading to joint collapse and arthritis. Causes include alcohol, smoking, corticosteroids, and conditions like Legg-Calve-Perthes. Symptoms range from no pain to severe joint pain and stiffness.
Diagnosis involves physical exams and imaging: X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, and bone scans.
Treatment aims to halt progression. Options include NSAIDs, osteoporosis drugs, cholesterol-lowering drugs, blood vessel openers, and blood thinners. Rest, physical therapy, and electrical stimulation are also used. For the hip, core decompression, bone grafts, osteotomy, joint replacement, and regenerative medicine are surgical options.
Natural remedies focus on symptom relief and risk factor reduction:
- Rest affected joints, avoiding high-impact activities.
- Use heat or ice for pain relief.
- Perform physical therapy exercises.
- Reduce alcohol, maintain healthy cholesterol levels, and quit smoking.
- Control blood sugar if diabetic.
- Consider acupressure.
- Consume calcium-rich foods like sesame seeds, almonds, spinach, figs, and ragi.
