Early signs of avascular necrosis of the femoral head
Disease description:
I have recently been feeling a strange sensation around the upper thigh and hip joint area. There's a dull ache now and then, especially after excessive movement or when I'm tired, and the pain becomes more noticeable. Is this a sign of avascular necrosis of the femoral head?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Chen Jian
Early symptoms of avascular necrosis of the femoral head:
1. Pain: This is the most common symptom in the early stage of avascular necrosis of the femoral head. The pain mainly occurs around the hip joint and may radiate to the inner or front side of the thigh or the knee. The nature of the pain may be dull, aching, or stabbing, and it worsens with activity but may be relieved with rest. As the disease progresses, the pain may gradually worsen and even interfere with sleep at night.
2. Limited range of motion: As the condition progresses, patients may gradually experience a reduced range of motion in the hip joint, particularly experiencing difficulty and pain when performing movements such as squatting or rotating the hip.
3. Cold intolerance and sensory abnormalities in the lower limb: Due to the reduced blood supply caused by avascular necrosis of the femoral head, the lower limb may receive decreased circulation, leading to cold intolerance and abnormal sensations such as soreness, swelling, or numbness.
4. Muscle weakness: Avascular necrosis of the femoral head may affect the range of motion of the hip joint, and the muscles attached to the hip joint may also be affected, resulting in muscle weakness.
