David Butschy
I have had Avascular Necrosis in both of my hips. My condition was caused by steroid treatments for my Multiple Sclerosis. The pain before the surgery was so intense I could barely walk. My left hip "died" in March, 1999. That hip took a while to diagnose, and then I had the surgery. My right hip followed in September, 1999. The diagnostic process was faster this time. Other than the surgery, which involves a small incision and drilling a 9mm hole into the hip, all the way to the "ball" the other option is hip replacement. I highly recommend the procedure known as decompression (drilling the hole.) While neither of my hips will ever be as good as new (I still have some pain from time to time) they are still mine, not a replacement. Feel free to e-mail me for more information.