Hip Infection* problem

clodaghcov

graduate
Joined
Oct 9, 2017
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618
Age
76
Location
West Midlands
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I have a hip infection for the second time in 4 years, had 4 replacements over 30 years and have been very unwell with sepsis. Also been in hospital 7 weeks on IV.

I am now home with spacer until February when hopefully another new hip will be implanted, huge doses of antibiotics and some discomfort and pain, but nothing like 4 years ago when my spacer bent.

I am managing to do most things on my crutches but get worried about my blood tests and how the future will pan out.

Any suggestions?

Has anyone else had 2 infections?
 
Hello there my friend. I started in 2013 with initial operation, everything came out for 9 months. IV antibiotics at home the entire time with spacer. Revision done 2014. Now it's got erosion, and I guess I'm looking for another surgery. A nightmare. I'm 59 and my life is so different. I'm seeing a second specialist this week, hope they will hav e some options for me. I'm also a Diabetic
 
Hi, has anyone any suggestions. I have spacer in now for 12 weeks, had a tumble and tripped over dog bone, managed to crawl to bed and got up fine. I feel okay, but a bit more pain in thigh. And where before I could lift spacer leg, it's now too painful.

Do you think it will settle? Maybe just jarred the concrete. I have no femur. Felt comfortable before, not so much now.xxx
 
Hi Clodaghov, That sounds painful. @Josephine we be able to help you with this. hopefully she'll be along shortly. Hang in there.
 
Welcome to BoneSmart @clodaghcov ! So sorry to hear about your fall! Have you tried icing and elevating your leg? Falls are very jarring and it may take awhile for things to ease. Are you taking any medication for pain?

I'll leave our standard recovery articles here for you. I know you have different issues than just THR recovery. But the information may be useful for you.
Hip Recovery: The Guidelines
1. Don’t worry: Your body will heal all by itself. Relax, let it, don't try and hurry it, don’t worry about any symptoms now, they are almost certainly temporary
2. Control discomfort:
rest
elevate
ice
take your pain meds by prescription schedule (not when pain starts!)​
3. Do what you want to do BUT
a. If it hurts, don't do it and don't allow anyone - especially a physical therapist - to do it to you
b. If your leg swells more or gets stiffer in the 24 hours after doing it, don't do it again.​
4. PT or exercise can be useful BUT take note of these
5. At week 4 and after you should follow this

Pain management and the pain chart
Healing: how long does it take?
Chart representation of THR recovery
Dislocation risk and 90 degree rule
Energy drain for THRs
Pain and swelling control: elevation is the key
Post op blues is a reality - be prepared for it
Myth busting: on getting addicted to pain meds
Sleep deprivation is pretty much inevitable - but what causes it?
BIG TIP: Hips actually don't need any exercise to get better. They do a pretty good job of it all on their own if given half a chance. Trouble is, people don't give them a chance and end up with all sorts of aches and pains and sore spots. All they need is the best therapy which is walking and even then not to excess.

We try to keep the forum a positive and safe place for our members to talk about their questions or concerns and to report successes with their joint replacement surgery. While members may create as many threads as they like in a majority of BoneSmart's forums, we ask that each member have only one recovery thread. This policy makes it easier to go back and review history before providing advice.
 
I see you are online - do you want to answer my questions above so I can advise you?
 
Sorry I am having problem navigating how to reply, the concrete is I have a concrete spacer in situ whilst infection is being treated. My femur had to be removed and was replaced by metal, this was constructed in US by bone cancer specialists.

I found all the hip info very interesting and have been icing all day, my crp is coming down from 400 with sepsis 11 weeks ago to 7 now which is really good news. Just need to be ultra careful.

Thank you for your helpxx
 
@clodaghcov you will notice that I have merged your three threads together as we prefer that members in recovery only have one thread.

This is for three reasons:
1. if you keep starting new threads, you miss the posts others have left you in the old threads
2. it often ends up that information is unnecessarily repeated
3. it's best if we can keep all your recovery story in one place so it's easily accessed if we need to advise you.

Please keep all your questions and updates on this thread. If you would like a new thread title just give a shout.
Sorry I am having problem navigating how to reply
Your reply is perfect. Just scoot down to the bottom of the page and post in the empty box below the last post on any thread.
 
I have a concrete spacer in situ whilst infection is being treated
Oh I see! What you are really referring to is bone cement!
my femur had to be removed
Did you mean your femoral implant?
My femur had to be removed and was replaced by metal, this was constructed in US by bone cancer specialists.
Can you expand on this for me? It Sounds very intriguing! Have you an xray of this? I'd love to see it.
 
Unfortunately not at the moment though I did see it up on the screen whilst with the consultant this week. It is very chunky and looks a very solid piece of structure. He took such great pride in this which is usually used with his bone cancer patients. It was sad it had to come out with the infection, exactly the same will replace it! The spacer I have in is made of cement. They are not very comfortable,. It will be a huge relief when I get the hip! Thank you for sorting my thread!xx
 
Hi @clodaghcov
Wondering how you're doing...So sorry for all of your pain and suffering.
Prayers once February arrives all will be resolved and you'll be on your way to healing.
Warm wishes for peace and comfort as you await February :console2:
 
Hi Layla, I have been doing really well, leading as much as normal life but on crutches, UNTIL! 3 days ago I started getting worse and worse pain but it felt like mechanical pain, anyway today I have a very swollen thigh and have lost at least 2 inches on that side, so my spacer has bent and there is nothing I can do about this, I havnt banged fallen or done anything to my leg, just an act of god!

I have spoken to surgeon and bone infection unit, I shall see consultant this week and the nurses from bone unit take my bloods on Thursday,I am due for new hip in February as long as results stay good, crp 4, which is great from 400 in August, esr still at 25. I have been off the antibs for a month now, so just keeping everything crossed we will be able to get on with this. I hate having to start on the tramadol again, but it is really necessary at the moment! Upto now the spacer has been so much better than the one I had 4 years ago, so ive been lucky upto now.

I hope you all had a great Christmas and a Very Happy New Year to everyonexxx
 
Do you mean something like this? This is designed for sarcoma patients

hinged 1-horz.jpg


The spacer I have in is made of cement. They are not very comfortable
They're not designed for comfort. Just to keep the soft tissues out to length as they have a tendency to contract without something to keep them stretched out.

abx prefashioned spacers.jpg
 
Thank you, prosthesis much chunkier will try and get picture eventually,I know or at least hope they will be able to stretch my leg down, last time I was 4ins short with spacer and I was just left with half ins which is easily dealt with by orthotics, just keeping everything crossed.

Thank you for your helpxx
 
I have dislocation of my spacer,which has left my thigh like an elephant and lost 3ins, thry are going to do my 2nd stage asap, but I have come home whilst they plan dates,the pain is pretty extreme hope its not too long to wait, thank you everyonexx
 
Hi @clodaghcov
Stopping by to say Hi! Wondering how you're doing and whether you have a scheduled
date for your next surgery. You've been through so much, my heart goes out to you in
your long suffering. Prayers you are soon healing and on the road to recovery.
It's been a long journey.
 
Hi,I was sure I had replied to this but message has disappeared, I must have pressed wrongly! I had new hip last Saturday,long complicated surgery, but out of 10 samples only one showed staph,been on iv antibiotics and anti fungals, I am still struggling with pain mainly just with walking,full weightbearing but the wound is very long and sore.I hope I may go home this week it is 2 weeks now and I must try and get going.xxx
 
Oh my goodness @clodaghcov-what an experience. Hope your healing progresses well. I am sure you are most anxious to get home.
 

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