-Anne.... long with answers

[Guest guest]

Hi -Anne,

I have been meaning to reply to you the past few days about my ana

and other diagnostic tests and how they determined lupus and have an

email started on the subject already saved in my draft folder... I

promise to finish it soon.

Yes keeping a sense of humor is one of the keys in surviving any

disease - otherwise you will go nuts!!!! As for the depression make

sure you get on a good medicine and stick to it - I take paxil but

everyone is different.

You ask what is Osteonecrosis.... Well it is a nasty, delbilatating

disease of the bones caused by several things - mine was caused by

all the high doses of Prednisone I was on when I first got sick. By

the time it is detected there usually isn't any saving it.

Here are some excerpts to describe it.

Avascular necrosis is a disease resulting from the temporary or

permanent loss of the blood supply to the bones. Without blood, the

bone tissue dies and causes the bone to collapse. If the process

involves the bones near a joint, it often leads to collapse of the

joint surface. This disease also is known as osteonecrosis, aseptic

necrosis, and ischemic bone necrosis.

What Causes Avascular Necrosis?

Avascular necrosis has several causes. Loss of blood supply to the

bone can be caused by an injury (trauma-related avascular necrosis or

joint dislocation) or by certain risk factors (nontraumatic avascular

necrosis), such as some medications (steroids), blood coagulation

disorders, or excessive alcohol use. Increased pressure within the

bone also is associated with avascular necrosis. The pressure within

the bone causes the blood vessels to narrow, making it hard for the

vessels to deliver enough blood to the bone cells.

Lupus can also attribute to the disease.

What Are the Symptoms?

In the early stages of avascular necrosis, patients may not have any

symptoms. As the disease progresses, however, most patients

experience joint pain--at first, only when putting weight on the

affected joint, and then even when resting. Pain usually develops

gradually and may be mild or severe. If avascular necrosis progresses

and the bone and surrounding joint surface collapse, pain may develop

or increase dramatically. Pain may be severe enough to limit the

patient's range of motion in the affected joint. In some cases,

particularly those involving the hip, disabling osteoarthritis may

develop. The period of time between the first symptoms and loss of

joint function is different for each patient, ranging from several

months to more than a year.

You can read more about it at

http://www.arthritis.org/conditions/DiseaseCenter/osteonecrosis.asp

Because my stage of the disease is further along there is nothing

that can be done except a total knee replacement but I can not have

it until the affected areas have crumbled enough.

My areas being affected are the patella, condyle, and femur so as you

see I have several locations that bone has died.

About this rash.... Well its several little areas that range from the

size of a dime to the size of a half dollar all over various areas.

Elbows, back of neck, forearms, back, legs, butt cheeks, torso. They

itch, and they hurt some are red, with raised silver scaley patches,

some are the same as my skin color with raised bumps if you do a

search with google and type in Psoriasis there are sites that show

you picures. also do a google search for excema or even elidel you

can find more pictures.

Let me know if this has helped any.

BTW congrats on the new bed.

Mike and I are going to get an adjustable bed within the next year -

we just need to get our roof done first. uggggg

Okay gotta get ready for dr appt.

Hugs

Deanna

> > Hey all,

> > Just wanted to drop a semi quick update for you all.

> >

> > Had to go see orthopedic surgeon Tuesday for the osteonecrosis in

my

> > right knee for more films. (I haven't been able to literally move

my

> > knee for hour's different times during the week - so we wanted to

> see if

> > the osteonecrosis had gotten worse) Films didn't show much of the

> > disease worsening but he did say that what I was experiencing was

> from

> > gas build up and such from the dead bone - He made it sound

good :-)

> > Anyways he said there was nothing he can do for it - that I am to

> > continue to just sit and wait for the knee to crumble so I can

get a

> > knee replacement. HELLO!!!!!! That does not sit well with me