Avascular Necrosis - Femoral Heads

Sorry to hear of your diagnosis. I had/have Stage II in both hips. I was diagnosed 5 years ago at 33 years old. Got a few opinions on treatment options, some of which told me a core decompression would not be worth the hassle, and I mostly decided to wait it out until pain got so bad that I was willing to undergo hip replacements.

The pain escalated pretty quickly, and within a few months I was walking with a pretty severe limp. Looked back into treatment options and met with Dr. Jeb Broyles about doing a core decompression with stem cell therapy. I read promising research and decided to go for it.

Surgery was on one hip at a time, twelve weeks apart. Six weeks on crutches following each surgery.

Five years later, I have not even been back for a follow-up. I have virtually no pain on a regular basis. About once every few months I get some pain while running or doing impact exercises (which are not recommended with AVN, but so be it), but the pain is not continuous. When I stop the particular exercise, the pain stops, and I can usually resume those exercises in a day or two.

I am not sure if it was the core decompression itself, or it coupled with the stem cell therapy, but I really don't have any effects of AVN anymore. As I said, I have never been to (because I haven't needed) a follow-up, but I want to do an MRI soon so see if they disease has progressed, stalled, or reversed.

TL;DR - Check out doing a core decompression with stem cell therpy. Dr. Broyles in the best in town for that.

I will be having the stem cell therapy also. Now I’m thinking I should ask about going ahead and doing the left side right after the right so I can just take short term disability one time. Just get it over with and hopefully not have any problems for the next 10 years. Thanks for the great information!