Actress Angelica Panganiban recently underwent another hip surgery to address her condition of avascular necrosis, a disease that leads to the death of bone tissue due to a lack of blood supply. In her Oct. 19 vlog with her husband Gregg Homan, titled The Homans, Panganiban shared the challenges of her health journey.
Earlier this year, she underwent core decompression to treat the condition. This procedure involves drilling small holes into the bone to relieve pressure and encourage blood flow. However, the 37-year-old actress revealed that the operation didn’t help her recovery, and instead, made things worse.
“After a month kong nag-bed rest, after a month noong surgery, bumalik kami sa doctor,” she shared. “Ako ang nakakaramdam, of course, and I am explaining na walang nangyari. Kung tutuusin, mas sumama ang pakiramdam ko.”
Despite her doctor advising her to wait five years before undergoing a hip replacement, Panganiban said she couldn’t bear the pain any longer. The thought of being bedridden for years seemed unbearable. “Defeated ka na nga, talo ka na sa sakit mo, then ihihiga ko lang. Hihiga lang ako nang five years,” she said, expressing her frustration.
Her main motivation was her young daughter, as Panganiban couldn’t imagine not being able to play with her. “Kasi kung walang paraan at ‘yun na talaga ‘yung situation ko, then I have no choice. But kung may paraan, ‘yun ang hindi ko matatanggap,” she said.
The death of her mother last August at the age of 61 further fueled her determination to regain her health. Reflecting on the loss, Panganiban shared how it made her realize the fragility of life and the importance of addressing health issues early. “Hindi ako papayag na may mangyari sa akin na ang dami kong regrets, ang dami kong sana sa buhay,” she said.
Following her latest surgery, Panganiban revealed she was able to walk for five hours, although she still experiences some pain. “Ikaw ba naman, tanggalan ng buto sa balakang, di ba?” she remarked. However, the severe pain caused by avascular necrosis on her left side has subsided. “Naiiyak ako,” she said, overwhelmed with happiness. “Happy [na] wala nang sakit.”
Panganiban first disclosed her condition in November 2023, noting that her symptoms began during her pregnancy in July 2022. Despite undergoing various treatments like PRP (platelet-rich plasma) therapy, her condition did not improve until the latest surgery.