Angelica Panganiban reveals she has bone condition: 'Sobra akong in pain'
Angelica Panganiban opened up about being in so much pain due to a bone condition called avascular necrosis.
In a vlog published on YouTube on Saturday, Nov. 18, the actress revealed she's suffering from the disease, adding that the pain began in early 2022 when she was pregnant.
"May mga iniinda akong sakit sa hips. Well, nagsimula 'to nung nabuntis ako. Siguro mga six months into pregnancy, mayroon na akong mga nararamdamang sakit on my hips," she shared. Angelica said she couldn't pinpoint where the pain really was—she just knew it was somewhere on her hips, legs, or back.
She initially thought it was just another pregnancy challenge that she had to endure, but the pain persisted even after she welcomed her first child with her fiance, businessman Gregg Homan and started working out again by doing yoga and running.
According to the local star, it even reached a point where she couldn't stand up and walk due to the unbearable pain in her body.
She decided to get an ultrasound to have it checked. "May nakita silang liquid doon sa bandang singit ko, so na-advise ako na magtherapy because hindi ko inoption ang pag-inom ng gamot dahil I'm breastfeeding," she recalled.
Angelica underwent therapy for two months, which was of great help. The pain, however, came back a week after she completed the sessions.
"Nagkaroon ng isang time na hindi na ako makalakad again, sobra akong in pain. Iyak ako nang iyak," she said.
The TV personality went back to the hospital, where doctors found out via MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) that she had avascular necrosis.
John Hopkins Medicine refers to avascular necrosis as a "disease that results from the temporary or permanent loss of blood supply to the bone. When blood supply is cut off, the bone tissue dies and the bone collapses. If avascular necrosis happens near a joint, the joint surface may collapse."
It could result in injury, fracture, damage to blood vessels, long-term use of medicines like corticosteroids, and specific chronic medical conditions, among others.
"Ang tanging solution niya, sabi sa akin, ay surgery—parang joint replacement na nakakatakot pakinggan," she said.
Angelica sought the help of a medical expert with a more conservative approach that involves stem cell injection for bone regrowth and regeneration.
The Kapamilya star is on the road to recovery, and she's able to stand up, cook, and hang out with her baby more often now. "Mas pabuti na nang pabuti 'yung pakiramdam ko," she shared, saying that she's hoping to get back to work next year.