So two weeks ago i was diagnosed with avascular necrosis (AVN). I have AVN in my knees and ankle. Since last week I started feeling pain in my hip as well. I don't know if it's in my head!? Can avascular necrosis spread to other joints??
From the National Institutes of Health Library...
"Osteonecrosis is a disease resulting from the temporary or permanent loss of blood supply to the bones. Without blood, the bone tissue dies, and ultimately the bone may collapse. If the process involves the bones near a joint, it often leads to the collapse of the joint surface. Osteonecrosis is also known as avascular necrosis, aseptic necrosis, and ischemic necrosis.
Although it can happen in any bone, osteonecrosis most commonly affects the ends (epiphysis) of the femur, the bone extending from the knee joint to the hip joint. Other sites include the upper arm bone, knees, shoulders, and ankles. The disease may affect just one bone, more than one bone at the same time, or more than one bone at different times."
In 2009, an MRI with contrast revealed that my right hip was 30% necrotic. Immediate replacement surgery before it got worse. It's the DISEASE that causes the bone death.
So sorry what you're going through. I've had two knee replacements due to osteoarthritis. Then January was diagnosed AVN of my right hip. I struggled along until the grinding and clunking became unbearable. Had to have bone graft as well as the hip appliance as it had desentegrated so badly. Fortunately the hip surgery and recovery are far easier than knees. I asked my surgeon if I would now be subject to AVN in the other hip ( whose X-ray, thankfully, is good). He said there is a very low percentage of recurrence.
Best of luck to you.
Underlying cause is also important, as it could be blood clots, prolonged use of anti inflammatories . . and then treatment where possible to stop further damage. So, yes, certainly new joints can be affected if the underlying problem has not or can not be solved. I hope you get some good answers to your questions soon.