Hip Infection* THR dislocations and Revision Surgery

GrannyButcher

new member
Joined
Oct 27, 2019
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5
Age
59
Location
Michigan
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United States United States
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Female
I originally had my THR in February of 2018. On April 20th 2019 I suffered a dislocation of that hip the pain is indescribable. I was taken by ambulance to the ER where they sedated me and put it back in place and put me in a leg immobilizer. One month later it dislocated again and I was referred to a Surgeon for revision. I had revision surgery end of August within two weeks I was very ill
and diagnosed with staph infection I had emergency surgery to remove the new revision clean it and replace it again. I went home with the IV antibiotic Vancomycin for six weeks. Almost exactly three weeks after the infection surgery my new hip dislocated. The Surgeon has no idea why it has dislocated with new equipment and had very few answers for me. In the last six months I've had three dislocations five ambulance rides five months in an immobilizer two surgeries one horrible infection and six weeks on IV antibiotics. I am paralyzed with fear of the dislocation happening again it was highly traumatic each time. Has anyone had similar experiences?? Thank You
 
@GrannyButcher
Welcome to BoneSmart, glad you joined us!
You have been through a lot with your new hip, have other members posting right now who have had dislocations.
Here is a link to a list of members with THR revisions, there are 3+ thread titles that mention dislocation, you may be interested in reading those threads.

Please post your exact surgery date's, a moderator will add them to your signature for you. Having the exact date's will help us properly advise you. Thanks!

Here are the Hip Recovery Guidelines, the articles are short and will not take long to read.

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
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

6. Access these pages on the website


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.
 
Thank You, I would like to know if anyone has heard of two totally different balls dislocating on the same person.
 
@GrannyButcher I am so sorry to hear about your experiences. I am correct, in thinking your implants were cleaned and re-installed in the same original positions?
 
WOW! so sorry to hear of your problems. I only know one person that dislocated twice and had revision which seemed to fix the problem.
When you dislocated the first time was there a cause? Did you move or twist in a certain way? I'm sorry for asking but might be helpful for the rest of us.
 
Hello and a peaceful Monday to you,
I'm so very sorry. I can't begin to imagine the pain you've endured during these dislocations and resulting anxiety that it will continue happening.
I have nothing to add, but prayer history won't repeat itself. I'm wondering at this point if you would benefit from a fresh pair of eyes studying your records since your current surgeon has no idea why this has occurred multiple times and seems to have no answers as you mentioned above.
Something to ponder...
Hugs and best wishes. We're here for you.
@GrannyButcher
 
I am also sorry this happened to you - I suppose it could happen to anyone when it’s not expected to anymore.

Just curious, do you remember what you were doing (if anything) when the hip dislocated? Altho since it dislocated twice, it sounds as if only the surgeon can fix it and you should insist that he does. I can only imagine how traumatic both incidents were.

Best to you.
 
You have been through so much.......I'm sure you are feeling like you can't catch a break. No wonder you are so anxious-----anyone would be. :console2:What you have described is so very unusual.

If it were me, I'd probably want to see a different surgeon who specialized in revisions, just for peace of mind. I understand from others on the forum that sometimes hip anatomy varies and requires different adjustments. Was your surgery done in a larger hospital or facility that does a lot of them? I sure hope you are able to move past all these complications and be able to start recovering from the trauma, as well as from the actual replacement. Sending good vibes your way! :flwrysmile:
 
Well to update I did the six weeks of Vancomycin and seemed to be fine and was scheduled to have second revision the day after Christmas so he could put in matching parts as mine were a mixed combo. The weekend after Thanksgiving I was sick and in an incredible amount of pain. My caretaker again called the ambulance to take me in luckily my friends were in the process of putting in a wheelchair ramp and door right to my bedroom. Before I had to be carried out on a sheet by Fire and Rescue due to my entryway having a few steps and a turn that made it impossible to get a stretcher through. So back to the ER where they tried to send me back home well I refused to go home I knew something was wrong with me. So they admitted me for pain control it was a good thing as I was taken to have surgery the second day in and I made a good call at refusing to go home as they discovered another infection of my bone. So he took out the complete hip and put in antibiotic spacers and Sent me home on another six weeks of Vancomycin. About four weeks home I somehow managed to dislocate again. So I had my eighth ambulance ride to the Hospital! They couldn't get me under enough to put it back in place so they admitted me and I had to spend the night waiting for an Operating Room. By this time I had my hip dislocated for about twenty-five hours!! So into the OR I went so they could completely me under to put the the spacers back in place and put me back in the leg immobilizer. At this point I have spent about nine months in this horrible immobilizer and been put back to bathroom and back and that's it. When I see my Ortho on Jan. 29th I will be scheduled to have the complete spacers out and permanent hardware put in. So that leaves me at five surgeries three of which includes the rod so my leg has been removed.So here I am at what has been a nightmare since April twentieth of last year. What I would like to know is some pain relief ideas as I am pretty much immune to my Percocet. I suffer horrible pain all the time.
 
Oops I forgot my tally I will have five surgeries, four dislocations, two six week rounds of home administered IV Vancomycin,three times my leg has been cut off and eight ambulance rides. Phew I don't think I can handle much more my right hip is also bad but it will have to be literally falling off before I let them replace it. All this trauma has me terrified!
 
GrannyButcher,
You have been through a lot, since your dislocation in April 2019, my heart goes out to your for having to go through so much in such a short time. :console2:
Could you please list all your surgeries and dislocations so we can add them to your signature for you, having the exact dates will allow us to better advise you. Thank you!
 
I am so very sorry you have been going through all of this, but glad you have reached out. Sorry seems like such an inadequate word, after all you have been through.

A pain doctor usually can answer your question about an alternative.

My experience with Percocet, years ago, from a bad accident, was it lost effectiveness after three months. My pain doctor doubled the dose. After another three months he now said I could triple the dose. I did not. I had surgery in two weeks and roughed it out because I did not want to get addicted.
 
Granny, do you have an infectious disease doctor involved with your case? You really need that expertise if you don't have one. I would insist on it before you have any more surgery. I would also question using the same surgeon over and over. He doesn't seem to be getting things done correctly for you. Have you considered getting other opinions?
 
Yeah this is pretty horrendous to hear, but it seems clear that if you're using the same surgeon over and over you should really reconsider that. Good luck to you Granny, wow.
 
I am on my second Ortho now and a Infectious Disease Specialist I don't know all my exact dates but I will try the one I know for sure is my first dislocation it was so traumatic I will never forget
ok
My original replacement surgery was in February 2018
My first dislocation was April 20th 2019
My second dislocation was in May 2019
First revision ball only was August 28th 2019
Next surgery two weeks later staph infection implant cleaned and put back in
Put on Vancomycin IV for six weeks at home
Third dislocation September 18th I think
Fourth surgery December 3rd complete removal of hip implant and antibiotic spacers put in
Put on second round of Vancomycin IV at home
January 16th 2020 dislocated 4th time
Going to Ortho January 29th to schedule 5th surgery to put all three parts of implants and take out spacers
Eight ambulance rides in all had to be carried out on sheet because stretcher would not turn the corner in my Entryway so friends built a wheelchair ramp and put a door in my bedroom so I had a way out I have already used it three times
phew I hope that helps I would like to talk with other people about antibiotic spacers and pain
Thanks Granny Butcher
 
Oh Granny, my heart goes out to you. xx

I find it difficult to comprehend all you have gone through in such a short period of time and I have endured quite a bit myself and have been in some untenable circumstances! I wonder why the constant dislocations? I wonder if they are replacing the hardware too soon ... I had my spacer in for five months till I was clear of infection for one month. Perhaps it is different here in Europe.

All I can say is stick with us for support or just someone to moan to or a shoulder to cry on.

These things are sent to try us ... and they do ... but we are strong and can fight back.

Take a deep breath, relax and have a peaceful day.

Hugs for You.jpeg Izzy xx
 
You poor soul I feel so sad for you, not only with the pain but the worry and anxious times ahead for you. My situation was slightly different but have had 3 infections and dislocations, often the dislocation can be caused by the infection, also I had IV and vancomycin and many months further of antibiotics, I am now nearly 2 years with my spacer, I feel its part of me! I shall be thinking of you and hopefully this will be the final hip replacement for you and you can start to put this time in the past and look forward to feeling better. Big hugsxxx
 
Hello @ GrannyButcher
I'm so sorry you're experiencing all of this. Did you schedule a surgery date when you met with your OS on January 29th? Hopefully so and it will be the beginning of the end of your long difficult journey. Please let us know how that appointment went. We're here for you and we care.
Wishing you comfort and a pleasant Wednesday. :SUNsmile:
 
OMG @GrannyButcher. What a traumatic journey you have been on. I’m in shock just reading about it. I’m about to go in for revision surgery due to infection, with a spacer for 6 months and IV antibiotics also. I’m feeling a little anxious now.
I hope you are finding some good pain relief ...... I can’t even begin to imagine how much pain you have been in.......you must definitely be of strong character to have endured so much. Hang in there as surely you are well and truly over the worst of it. Sending lots of healing vibes your way. ✨
 
Just stopping by to say Hi @GrannyButcher
Please know were here for you and we care.
Hope to read an update from you soon.
 

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