Bruce
new member
I had a total hip replacement on 3/25/19. Approximately two months later, I started noticing pain and it only got worse. I told my original surgeon about the pain and at first he blew me off. I set an office visit with my original surgeon and he drew blood to check for infection ( he still appeared to be set off about my situation and stated if anything it must be nerve damage). The doctor called me back the next week and set me up for an aspiration at the hospital. One week after the hip aspiration, I received another phone call from the unsympathetic doctor to say that the results of the aspiration showed an infection ( staph epidermis). The doctor set me for a clean out of the hip two days later. I had my hip clean out on 6/13/19 and had a Picc line inserted and received 6 weeks of intravenous antibiotics. Approximately a few months later the pain returned. Doctor set me up for another hip aspiration in October of 2019 and the results came back as positive once again for staph epidermis. I was subsequently sent to a specialist in Dallas Texas (orthopedic oncologist that also specializes in infections). I went through my third surgery on 10/29/19, in which, the doctor removed the infected left total hip replacement with placement of a temporary implant ( two stage procedure). I was also placed on a Picc line once again for 6 weeks with the infusion of vancomycin. I was told this last procedure had a 90% success rate. However, I am still very worried about this infection coming back once again. Please if anyone has any advice or a story concerning my fears, please share it with me. I am new at this and I am not sure if I put my story in the right place/forum.