Silent bone death and severe pain… “Osteonecrosis of the femoral head” disclosed by Tatsuya Yamaguchi, “a terrible cost” caused by alcohol dependence.

《The femur bone is rotting.

《If it continues to hurt like this, it will be an artificial joint. I heard that this cannot be cured. When I looked at the x-ray, it had turned black.

Tatsuya Yamaguchi, 54, a former member of “TOKIO,” has been giving lectures on the theme of “the fear of addiction” and “social rehabilitation from addiction” based on his own experience with alcoholism at local governments and other venues throughout Japan. Recently, he has begun to mention in his lectures that he has developed “osteonecrosis of the femoral head” in his right hip joint, which has attracted attention in many places.

Although Yamaguchi says he currently manages to maintain his daily life, if severe pain appears, he will need artificial joint replacement surgery. This unfamiliar disease is a serious illness that is included in the list of intractable diseases designated by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW).

In recent years, the number of patients undergoing joint replacement surgery has been increasing. Behind this increase lies a problem that is often overlooked,” points out Dr. Kazutoshi Kameda, director of the Sapporo Chuo Orthopedic Clinic (” ” denotes Dr. Kameda).

The “problem” is alcoholism. Yamaguchi himself describes his osteonecrosis of the femoral head as “alcohol-derived.

The bones are quietly crumbling.

Osteonecrosis of the femoral head is a disease in which the bones quietly die due to impaired blood flow. The femoral head, located at the base of the thigh, is an extremely important weight-bearing part of the body. When blood cannot reach this area, bone cells become necrotic. However, necrosis alone is often not enough to cause pain. What is truly frightening is when the necrotic bone head is unable to support the weight and caves in. Only then does severe pain occur.”

“The bone is dying. Despite the intensity of these words, the disease progresses surprisingly quietly. Before you know it, your joints are steadily breaking down.

Alcohol and bones. The seemingly unrelated relationship between alcohol and bones has already been medically proven.

In studies and diagnostic criteria for idiopathic osteonecrosis of the femoral head,

More than 320 grams of pure alcohol equivalent per week for at least 6 months.
Drinking more than 2 g of sake equivalent per day (about 40 g of pure alcohol) for a prolonged period of time.

These are listed as clear risk factors. It has been reported that the risk of developing the disease increases about 10-fold for those who drink three or more 350 ml cans of beer every day.

I suspect that there are many people who fall into this category!

Heavy drinking over a long period of time is not just a problem of addiction.

Alcohol causes blood flow disorders and abnormal lipid metabolism. Not only does it clog the small blood vessels in the bones and disrupt blood flow to the femoral head, but direct toxicity to bone cells is also thought to be involved. Thus the bones collapse from the inside out.”

Alcoholism is a systemic disease that affects not only the brain and liver, but also the bones.

It doesn’t end with surgery.

The real horror of this disease is that it has few early symptoms. The inevitable delay in detection lies in the fact that the disease tends to be detected late.

‘In the early stages there are almost no symptoms. In many cases, the disease is overlooked at the level of discomfort or mild pain, and by the time the pain becomes severe, necrosis has already progressed and the head of the bone has begun to sink in.

Although cirrhosis and dementia are well-known symptoms of alcoholism, it is not uncommon to see it manifested in the form of osteonecrosis of the femoral head. It is, so to speak, a complication that is difficult to see.

When necrosis progresses to the point where the head of the bone becomes sunken, the only option left is artificial joint replacement surgery.

By replacing the broken bone with an artificial joint, pain relief and recovery of walking function can be expected.

However, surgery is not the answer to all problems.

However, surgery is not the answer to all problems. “Although the materials and design of artificial joints have been improved in recent years, and they can be expected to last 20 years or more, artificial joints have a limited life span,” said Dr. Kurokawa.　Especially if the surgery is performed at a relatively young age,

The possibility of revision surgery in the future.
Complications such as infection and dislocation
Life limitations such as avoidance of excessive loading.

The following are some of the realities that need to be understood. Strenuous exercise and overload must be avoided, and long-term follow-up is essential. In other words, the body does not get back to normal.”

The cost of alcoholism is too great. Brain atrophy, cognitive decline, liver cirrhosis, and bone necrosis. The damage is irreversible and irreversible.

Former TOKIO member Tatsuya Yamaguchi overcame alcoholism and is now involved in educational activities. Facing the reality of osteonecrosis of the femoral head, he must be keenly aware of the fear of alcohol once again.