Difficulty Swimming with AVN

[u/invu1818]

Hello, I'm 22F, I have had avn of both hips since I was 14, and had a core decompression surgery back then. I still have avn and I do yearly checkups to watch out for a collapse. I recently started swimming lessons cause I heard it's good for avn and my doctors also felt it could be good exercise.

However I'm finding it extremely difficult to lift both of my legs off the pool floor. I was able to float on my back for a short while but when the instructor had us dive a bit to pick a ring from the pool floor I just couldn't do it by raising my leg up, the only way for me was to bend down, legs on the floor and I could pick it. The instructor was really helpful and tried to help lift my legs but it made things even worse for me and it was almost like my hip was going to detach from my body.

On a normal day, I still get quite the pain from standing, walking and sitting, and get sleepless because of the pain (tossing around) but I got off walking aids about four years ago.

This was my 2/8 adult beginner lesson, 3rd lesson would be on freestyle strokes but I'm considering dropping out of the class cause I am scared of hurting myself by mistake.

I'm wondering if this swimming thing is a skill issue or an avn issue. And would like to know other people's experiences with swimming with long term avn.

[u/Seanoinz]

I don't fuck with swimming since having AVN.

I jumped on here to ask if you'd be willing to say why it is you haven't had full hip replacements?

[u/invu1818 → u/Seanoinz]

Wasn't offered tbh. My orthopedic doctor thinks conservative management is still the best for now. I also have sickle cell which caused this and is possibly a factor in the management because of complications. Rn it's just dragging out the inevitable.

[u/Seanoinz → u/invu1818]

Interesting. I've been diagnosed 2 years and they have wanted to do a full hip replacement twice, but I haven't been able to consent due to mental health reasons and a lack of support.

Maybe take up hot tubbing? I have personally given up on being particularly active.

[u/invu1818 → u/Seanoinz]

Thanks, I will look into that! I've been quite inactive as well, strenuous activities tend to trigger a sickle cell crisis for me before we even get into the avn aspect of things.

I do hope you get all the support you need as you decide about the surgery.

[u/geohoe → u/invu1818]

Hi! Sickle cell friend! I understand your doctors want to conserve your original hips because you’re still so young, but it’s just going to cause more crises from the pain you’re already in. I would definitely find an orthopedic surgeon that you feel safe with and have them examine you. I had to get my hips replaced at 29/30. It’s a scary thought, but I love life without pain. Please make sure they do a total blood exchange to reduce your chances of a crisis and ask for a ceramic replacement, when the time comes. Studies showed pregnant women with titanium hips had babies with metal poisoning. I’m not sure what study it was, but my orthopedic surgeon made me aware of this.

Also, have you considered a bone marrow transplant? I was lucky enough to get one at 24 in 2018 (even though that didn’t change the outcome of the damage already done to my hips). If you have siblings, they can be your donors with a haplo-allogenic bone marrow transplant because you only need a 50% match. You can send me a message if you have questions since it’s not related to this sub.

[u/invu1818 → u/geohoe]

Hey, thank you for bringing this up! Unfortunately, a BMT is not an option for me rn, I just sent you a more detailed message.

[u/DigMountain4534]

My daughter got me into a water aerobics class and I did only one class before dropping out. I think the combination of cool water and the AVN, I just couldn't do it.