@Badhip2010 I just read your thread and I can feel for you.
I had a TLHR on 6-27-19, followed by a surgery on 12-19-19 to repair a detached Gluteus Medius.
Several weeks after that surgery things were going along okay, save for a very leaky incision. A week or so after that, I got severe pain and pressure in the upper left thigh. They sent me in for some scans and blood work. UH-oh, I had a an infection.
So, on Jan 30-20, they opened me up again, and did the "clean out" via irrigating the entire area with antibiotic solution, after removing the infected tissue, and replacing the polyethylene cup and ceramic ball.
They put me on IV antibiotics for what was supposed to be 6 weeks, Well, that didn't workout, so I had my 4th surgery on 2-26-20. During this procedure, they did an explant (ripped out my initial implants and installed the medicated spacer. They also changed my antibiotics and restarted the 6 week clock for them.
I ended up having a PICC line in until a week ago Friday. My blood work is all good now, but I still have a great deal of pain, which is concentrated in the upper left groin.
I'm seeing a new surgeon in mid May to discuss the revision surgery. I was supposed to see him next week, but my wife is having outpatient surgery next week, so I had to push my appointment out. She's taken care of me since June, now I have to do my best to take care of her until she recovers, which should be fairly quick. (fingers crossed).
In reading your post, I see you saying you don't know if you have another surgery left in you. I say the same thing at least a few times a week. This whole deal is physically and mentally draining, to say the least.
I've read that some people do great with the spacer, me, no such luck. I sleep in a chair and am on a walker 90% of the time. I'm older than you by 10 years, so I'm going to encourage you to keep on truckin and do what the docs say.
I know when the time comes for surgery #5 (on the same dang hip) within 10 or 11 months, I'll be there. I owe it to my wife and family not to give up. Plus, I still have plenty of years left in me to enjoy life, with or without the pain and angst.
Funny thing is, I have zero fear of the surgery or going under. I am however, quite terrified about getting yet another infection. Being on the IV antibiotics for that long was tough.
The very fine folks here helped me to get through that with lots of good advice and of course plenty of good juju and prayers.
I'm pulling for you, and hope your latest procedure works out really well for you. Sending good vibes your way. Hang in there..
Westy
United States
