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Hip Infection Excellent recovery until it wasn't

I am at a little over 5 weeks out and have probably overdone it. I am working all day tomorrow so have been resting 2 days. Well, sort of, the dogs need a walk. And that's the thing, it will take longer to feel better the more I do, even if it's just the minimum. THR recovery is such a dance back and forth and so I individual. I like one of the rules on this forum...if it hurts to do don't do it or don't do it again. Good luck. You will get through. It's just a lot of time to get there.
 
@919THR Your post is so timely :-) I've been no weight bearing on a right hip revision for 7 weeks. I got the go ahead to put weight on it this past Tuesday. And yep, I was so anxious to do things for myself, I pushed too hard. I'm paying for it with a throbbing hip. Ice and rest on order for the next few days or week or whatever it takes. And PT - while I've benefited from it in the past - I think I'll hold off for a while longer. We all want to get our lives back but just end up going doing the reverse in the process. Lots of been there done that on this forum, haha. Take it easy.
 
One more thing to add: my surgeon said if I felt any pain in the groin area to call immediately, as this is where the implant is taking hold. If that’s where you’re pain is, call!
 
My update. So at four weeks post surgery I had my big setback relative to my great recovery at I indicated in my initial post. Likely due to doing too much. Had a follow up with OS since I was taking quite long to start improving with extensive rest. Had an X-ray and that looked good. My OS was still worried that I had this lingering pain and decided to have me get an aspiration of fluid from my hip so they could rule out the possibility of a deep joint infection.

Well finally after 9 days of frequent pain whenever bearing weight on operated leg I finally started to see some incremental improvement. Could bear more weight each day. Still using cane to make sure I'm taking it easy. But I can and do go with cane sometimes.
 
Also I had kind of an unusual occurrence at just over five weeks. I had a pretty large hematoma on my hip right at my incision point. About the size of a deck of cards. It formed about a week after my surgery but never seemed unhealthy when I visited my OS. It was not discolored, no oozing. OS gave me antibiotics just in case.

I started to lay on the hematoma side of my body once I was cleared at 2 weeks because I HAVE to sleep on my side and so I would occasionally lay in that side during sleep but never too long because it wasn't that comfortable. Well at week five I rolled over and laid on the hemotoma as I tried to get comfortable for sleep. Then I rolled over and noticed that my bed was wet. 60%of the hematoma had emptied out. It would guess at least 4 ounces of fluid. It came out Through small holes in my incision I guess because my incision was still intact. I was not to worried about it because it was clear watery fluid which apparently is serous fluid which is the harmless fluid that commonly forms around trauma to the body, in this case my surgical incision. I reported this to my OS and they are going to get me in for an aspiration even quicker than originally planned just to hopefully make sure my issues are not infection related.
 
:wave:I have heard tales like this before and likely not infection, But glad they are checking it out anyway.
Good for you for checking your hat at the door of the "Take it Easy" club.
You sound like things are getting better...many use cane for quite a bit..so don't get in a hurry with it.
Your hip will tell you when.
Keep us posted on your results.
Hope today is a good day.:SUNsmile:
 
I'm glad you went back to your surgeon to confirm the hip itself was fine. Sounds like following up on the possibility of infection is also another step in eliminating anything more serious, and you will be relieved to know. It sounds like you have had a lot of ups and downs in the past few weeks---here's hoping things stabilize for you.
 
Well the aspiration was a week ago on Monday. OS called me last Wednesday and told me there was definitely "something" there and that growing out the culture would show them what it is. OS recommended I schedule and the hip revision surgeon in their practice, so based on all my reading on this forum I had a good idea what was coming. Had an appointment with revision surgeon yesterday who informed me that the bacteria/infection that was found in the culture from my hip joint aspiration was Pseudomonas. It doesn't respond to antibiotics and since I am 7 weeks post implant surgery the best course for me getting rid of the infection is a two stage revision replacement. All I can think is that I picked a bad time to get lucky and be in the 1% that gets an infection. So my surgery to get the spacer in is set for 12/6/18. Then the pic line IV and another new hip in early March 2019 if all goes well. Bummer!! Well this means I will savor a healthy hip even more when I get one.

I guess the only consequence I have from the infection at this point is pain and weakness in my operated hip that started appearing week 4. The pain is a numb pain in my legs many times when I am laying down and its a chore to walk with the cane, but still possible

One question I have for the Bonesmart community knowledge/exericence: is it likely that I got this infection in the hospital? @Josephine It seems from what little I can find on Pseudomonas is that it's a bacteria that is prevalent in the environment/world in general but that it most often causes infection only in a hospital setting. I would just like to take some comfort in the fact that the infection was somewhat out of my control and not the result of me not keeping things clean enough at home post surgery.

I guess I get the red hip infection flag:sorry:
 
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So sorry to read about your infection. Yes, Josephine is the best person to answer your question about the infection. I am sure it was not a matter of your home environment.

At least you have a date and will soon get on with this process. Please keep us updated!
 
@919THR, bummer! ... Serious bummer! ... I doubt you did anything to cause the infection ... Bummer in that we were all hoping your pain was due to overdoing it ... But I love your doctor's responsiveness and quick reaction and getting you to a revision surgeon ...
 
I'm so sorry to read your update.
You're being forced to deal with something we all hope will never affect us. I'm sure you will find some comfort in the success stories you read here, as well as comfort and support from other member's as you journey through the process. Thankfully you don't have to wait long too long for your next surgery.
Wishing you comfort and a Happy Thanksgiving as you await your date.
@Harryn1
 
@919THR ... I am also in that 'elite' 1% and I would welcome you to the Elite Club but it is not a Club one wants to be a member of... but I can empathise with you!

I had to look up your bacteria and it does not bode well that it is unresponsive to certain antibiotics but I am sure your Surgeon/Infectious.Diseases person will have ideas of how to treat you. I have E-Coli and am on Amoxcillin/Clavulanic Acid,, now taking tablets at home. I have had my spacer in 5 weeks on Thursday with no weight bearing and I am only 115lbs!

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to ask and in the meantime I send my best wishes to you.
 
919THR said:
is it likely that I got this infection in the hospital? I would just like to take some comfort in the fact that the infection was somewhat out of my control
Click to expand...
You can rest assured that in no way was it 'your fault'. You were unlucky, that's all.

It might help you to read these articles to understand what probably happened
Peri-prosthetic infection - also known as late onset infection
Peri-prosthetic infection: study by the Mayo Clinic concerning prophylactic antibiotics
 
Oh man, that is so rough. And now you’re in purgatory waiting for surgery again! So sorry you’re going through this.
 
@919THR I am so sad that you are having to deal with this,but, there will be light at the end of the tunnel, its a lesson in patience, positivity,discomfort and lots of humour, and I am sure reading about you, you have piles of all those things! I am in my 7th month with my spacer and IVs and hopefully getting towards a Christmas release. Ive learnt never to be too sure when it will end, too many times i have been disappointed, mine has been ongoing since August 17th, but i manage well on my crutches and use a buggy and try and keep and posotive and determined. I am glad they are onto it, infection means pain, so i will be thinking of you and keeping everything crossed except my legs!xx
 
How are you doing? Wasn't sure if you've had your revision surgery yet, or if you are still waiting?
 
Hello @Debru4. Thanks for asking. I go in to get my spacer installed this Thursday 12/6. They expect that I will be in the hospital for 3 to 4 days.
 
Best of luck with your surgery on Thursday.
We'll be here rooting for you. Let us know how you're doing when you feel like updating.
Wishing you comfort as you wait.
@919THR
 
Sending healing hugs in advance!
All the best for Thursday!:tada:
 
@919THR Good luck with your surgery. Here's hoping it goes well and the 3-4 day hospitalization will enable them to monitor you so you can get a good start to the recovery process!

Keep us posted----it's so unfortunate you are dealing with this----not a common occurrence, but one that could happen to any of us. Sending good thoughts your way!
 
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