Is it idiopathic or is it steroids?

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April was an interesting month. I started having hip pain when I'd stand up after sitting for a while. But my hip didn't bother me skiing or dancing at a wedding or going on log walks. But by the end of April, the pain was awful so I saw an orthopedic doctor. By May 2nd, osteonecrosis (avascular necrosis) was diagnosed!

I'm 56 and female - I don't fit any profile of patients. I have no other diseases and my orthopedic surgeon considers it "idiopathic". However, I took 3 rounds of steroids a year ago for swollen tonsils. I had a total of 585 mg over 23 days. That seems like a very small dose to have caused this.

I spent May researching treatments and causes. Because of my age and because I have some arthritis in my hip already, a hip replacement is the only choice. Then I had a couple of additional x-ray views and found I was already late stage 3 with collapse. I will have surgery as quickly as it can be scheduled.

For anyone who is nervous about hip replacement - it's the is the most successful surgery!