Avascular necrosis is a disease in which the blood supply to the head of the hip joint reduces drastically, leading to a disorganization and ultimate collapse of the head of the hip joint. While this medical condition usually relates to the hip joint, it is also less commonly seen in other joints such as the shoulder joint. This disease usually occurs due to unknown causes, but it may also be related to trauma and the use of medication such as steroids.
Ayurvedic treatment has been very successful in the management of this disease, by reversing the main pathology of the disease, by improving and normalising the blood circulation to the head of the hip joint. In addition, Ayurvedic medicines are also very successful in treating the symptoms of this disease such as pain, stiffness, and impaired mobility. Treatment is usually in the form of oral medication and is supplemented by local applications and fomentation. Intensive therapy is usually given for about six months, after which the affected individual can take supplemental therapy for another twelve months. Pain and stiffness disappear in about four to six months, usually due to reversal of the pathology of the disease. However, the process of remodelling of bone structure of the head of the hip joint takes a much longer time and may continue for twelve to eighteen months. This is why maintenance therapy is necessary and recommended.
Currently, there is no treatment for this condition in the modern system of medicine, other than providing medication for pain relief and advising graded exercises for reducing stiffness and impaired mobility. Gross changes in the structure of the head of the hip joint are surgically corrected, or a complete replacement is advised. In this scenario, it is heartening to note that Ayurvedic medicines can successfully treat this disease completely and reverse the entire pathology of the disease.
The writer, Dr. A. A. Mundewadi, is available as an online Ayurvedic Consultant at https://www.mundewadiayurvedicclinic.com and http://www.ayurvedaphysician.com
