Coping with AVN, Introductory page

He might also have called it “Osteonecrosis”, or “Avascular necrosis.” Both terms mean the
same thing: your joints or bones are dying. If you are like most of us, a very unsettling type of
panic begins to set in. It is almost too much to take in all at once and for the very first time.

How can something inside of our bodies die? It happens more often than you may think.
When a person has a severe heart attack, a portion of the heart muscle dies due to a lack of
blood flow. When a person has cancer, a tumor can cause lack of blood flow to surrounding
tissues, causing necrosis, or causing those once healthy tissues to die.

And, so it is with our precious joints and bones. Something has occurred to cause a hip, or
knee, or other joint to suffer a lack of blood supply and so it begins to die. The problem with
AVN is that all too often it has been going on for quite some time by the time pain is first felt.
Unlike the heart, there are no warning signs for our bones until the damage is enough to
begin causing painful symptoms.

You are most likely feeling very confused, very unsure of what to do next. Just trying to
understand what is happening to you takes a lot of mental and emotional effort. To make
matters worse, more than likely no one around you has ever heard of it before, either. This
tends to make us AVN’ers feel somewhat isolated because what we have is so unusual, so
very much different from most other illnesses that it’s hard to get this concept across to
family and friends. Almost always, a kind of depression begins to take hold as well. It’s not
easy having something rare and unusual, and it definitely is not easy coping with bone pain
that is second only to the pain from bone cancer. Fortunately for us, this is not bone
cancer…but the pain is very similar. Some people are affected with just a very small 'necrotic
spot', as one person wrote and told me, and as her doctor told her it is possible for such a
small area of AVN to reverse itself; so, our Website/Association is more geared for those
whose AVN does not go away, which, I am sad to say, seems to be far more often the case.

When I was first diagnosed 12 years ago, there was nothing at all on the Web for me to turn to
for advice or knowledge, or much less for emotional support! I felt totally alone, set apart
from everyone I knew and no one’s words were of any help to me whatsoever. How could
they be? Even I didn’t fully understand what was happening to me; how could anyone else
around me understand? So, I went on a quest to find some others with AVN, and that is how
this organization got its beginning.

Today, our association numbers close to 2,000 members, and our chat and info group on
Yahoo has more than 1,000. Believe me when I tell you that this is one disease that really
calls for a good support system! Our dynamic chat and info group on Yahoo has been a
tremendous help to thousands of people over the past seven years, and three years before
that on AOL. If you want someone to understand what it is that you are feeling and are
undergoing, you need to come join our group. Our level of compassion and understanding is
surpassed by nothing and no one else. Right now, there are over 30,000 messages/past
posts to browse through and read, if that is what you’d like to do! Additionally, there are far
more than 120 pages of other fine Website links, files, and database items at our members’
disposal. We have taken the time to look up hundreds of quality Websites for everyone’s use,
dealing with topics related to AVN as well as non-AVN related items. Of course, we also have
real-time chats! You can 'talk' with others twice a week who also have AVN. Our members love
these chats!

If you have AVN, then you have found the right group, indeed. If you are looking for
knowledge, comfort, or support, you need to join us. You must first join our Association, then
register with Yahoo and finally, you will be sent a personal invitation to join us at our Yahoo
chat and info site. There are no costs or fees at this time, and we are a totally volunteer
organization. However, your kind and thoughtful donations towards our research project
would be very deeply appreciated. This is the association that is for AVN patients by AVN
patients, the only one of its kind in the world. You are more than welcome to join us, and so
are your loved ones. Although we are sorry to hear you have AVN, we look forward to seeing
you!

o to our

Testimonials page

to see what our members

have to say about belonging to our support group, and

about being an active part of our Yahoo info/chat group!

Click here

And, don't miss another new page!

Questions and answers about our Yahoo chat/info group

Click here

Next, join our organization! Go to our Membership Form page -

For more info, write to me at AVNrie@avnsupport.org

The ON/AVN Support Group Int'l Association, Inc.
Box 118 - 8500 Henry Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19128

Email: avninfo@avnsupport.org

Disclaimer:

The web pages and message boards at our site are for informational and entertainment purposes only. Material placed on any page or
message board does not necessarily reflect the views of Osteonecrosis / Avascular Necrosis Support Group International Association, Inc.
(“ON/AVN SGIA, Inc.”). The information on our site is provided with the understanding that we are not engaged in rendering medical or
professional medical services or advice.

We assume no responsibility for any choices that you may make for your own medical care. Information included in a message board should
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needs, or those of your loved ones. What we share here on our site is from members’ experiences and personal opinions only and is not to
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or lack thereof, of any information, suggestions, ideas, opinions, or advice.

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Coping with AVN...
Introductory page: Who we are

For several years, our site featured an editorial page called "From the Director's Chair" where various topics were
written about from the Editor's perspective. Now, we offer "Coping with AVN" as its replacement. Please discard your
old bookmark for the older page and mark this new one.

Looking for support? You've found it!

Note: To translate this page into another language, please return to our home page and click on the Babel
Fish link, bottom of home page.

Now, this has happened to you; but fortunately for you,
you have found your way to us.

OK, so your doctor just told you that you have AVN.
First, take a few deep breaths...