Hip Infection* Westy's Hip Recovery Thread

@ Westy I am so sorry with what you are going through,its hard very hard but it is better to get all the prosthesis out, the antibiotics will then help your body to heal while the spacer will do its stuff. I have now had my spacer in for 2 years its not all bad,i drive and lead a normal life while my body is healing. Take care and let the specialists guide you. Thinking of you at this horrible time. Hugsx
 
@Westy ... I'm glad you were watchful over yourself and how you were feeling. You took quick action. It is a good thing to have the implant removed and replaced by an antibiotic spacer. That's the best way to fight an infection. I'll be praying for you. Please know your entire BoneSmart family is sending you healing vibes and will be awaiting your return to the forum when you feel better.
 
Westy, I am sorry to read you are going through another procedure today.

I have been through the spacer route and I know with your upbeat attitude you will pass with flying colours.

Sending positive vibes from afar ... you will get through this journey ...

Confused Cat in Box.jpeg Izzy xx
 
Hope everything went well today and that you're resting comfortably. We're here for you and are all sending up prayers, super good thoughts, great mojo and whatever other positivity we can send your way. :friends:
 
Oh golly, my heart goes out to you @Westy , what a journey. Wishing you all the best for this surgery and sending a heap of healing vibes for a gentle and steady recovery. Sounds like your on the right path back to good health ... once and for all. You truly deserve that. Hang in there.
 
I believe many are thinking of you, Westy.
Hopefully you're resting comfortably and feeling optimistic about a brighter future. Prayers will continue for your comfort and perfect healing. :prayer:
Sending a warm hug your way today. :console2:
@Westy
 
Hello, hello, I'm back home after surgery # 4 which took place on Wed2/26/20 at 6:45 PM and lasted til round 11PM. OS said implants were still in there as tight as could be, given the terrible infection. I was in a the most pain I've ever experienced since this whole hip drama started. I was RX, 2MG of IV Morphine every 4 hours as needed, along with 2 Norcos every four hours as needed for pain. i took a ton of both and was still in PAIN. I pleaded with the ID doc to let my come home today.She agreed, which I'm grateful for. My numbers were nasty after bllod draws and body temps were a disaster as well. My high temp as 103.7 Friday night, which is the highest it's ever been in my life. The id DOC USED THE TERM ANTIBIOTIC SICKNESS. ?????? Anyway, I'm now off Dapto and and on a new one, which I'll name once it comes back into my mind. ID doc also switched my other IV antibiotic over to another one as well.

After the high temp deal, my RBC was hovering at 6.6, so they gave me a unit of rec blood cells. I'm up to 7.1 and climbing. Also watching trends.

So much more to report with you all, but I'm honestly so zonked out on Norco at the moment (seems to be the story of my life since 12/19/19) it would be far more appropriate to foolow up in a few days, once I've settled in here at home and don't have so much pain killer going through my body.

Thanks for all the kind thoughts and prayers. I appreciate you all a ton. I can honestly say, it's official, I am so sick and tired of being sick tired, I hope something works this time.

I be back so, meantime enjoy a great upcoming week everyone. Looks like the weather around us is teasing with some gorgeous spring like conditions.


Westy
 
Happy to hear you're back home now and maybe you can get some decent rest. I am so sorry about all that you have and are going through. Wish we could do more than send cyber hugs, thoughts and prayers. :prayer: Get some rest and check back when you're feeling a bit more yourself. :console2:
 
Awww.. darn it, Westy. It sounds like a tough several days. Thank you for updating us. We have definitely been worried for you.

Rest up and enjoy the sunshine.. that seems to be able to lift even the lowest spirits. We are slated for a good bit of rain, apparently. But warmer!

I don't blame you for being sick and tired of being sick and tired. So understandable.

Take care, update when you feel better up to it. :SUNsmile:
 
I’m thankful for your update, Westy. You’ve made friends here and I’m sure I speak for many when I say you’ve been on our minds. I’m sorry for all you have to endure and that you’re experiencing a very rough start. Hopefully things level out soon. Rest up, we’ll be here when you’re up to sharing more. Prayers will continue.
@Westy
 
@Westy So glad to hear from you!

Oh my, what you have been through, I can't imagine. :bow: You are one tough guy! I can't blame you for being sick of being sick. Extra prayers are coming your way for healing.

You have one bright spirit to be looking forward to spring weather! I hope it turns out to be a delightful spring where you are, this year. :flwrysmile:
 
You have been on my mind, and I'm so sorry for this horrid season in time for you.
Hoping the new antibiotic agrees with you better...
Continued healing vibes coming your way.
 
Pleased to hear you made it through such a long op and that you are home now ... always good to be with own surroundings. I actually cried begging my doctor to let me home one time. :sad:

:fingersx: the new antibiotics work for you.
 
Thank you for the update @Westy You have been in all our thoughts. What a long road, so sorry for all the pain and drug complications. Really hope home can provide you rest and comfort. Sending healing prayers.
 
@Westy
Great to hear the surgery was successful and you are already back home!! May you have lots of healing rest. I know how you feel about being sick and tired of being sick and tired!
Praying those antibiotics are working well and this is the end of your hip surgeries!!
 
Hello everyone, it's ole FOGGY BRAIN Westy checking in. I am one week post explant surgery today. My mobility is severely restricted, and I'm one of those old guys who refuses to post on a forum via my "SMART" phone. :) Even though it's got a generous seized screen, and great font adjustment, I could never get use to using the phone as a tablet. Meanwhile, my tablet has gone missing in my messy man cave, so I've been forum free for a few days as best I recall.

At around 3PM cst, the day after we arrived home from the hospital, my pain level was a solid 9 no matter what position I was in. The almighty Norco 10/325's which had worked so very well for me after the past 3 surgeries, was no longer even touching the pain. I was max dosing them @ 2 every 4 hours, and still I was in severe pain. I messaged OS via MyChart and they Said i had become Norco resistant and kicked me up to straight OxyCodone, 10Mg x 2 every 4 hours as needed. The pain is highly concentrated in upper left groin and radiates downward. It goes right down my left leg all the way to my ankle, and at its worst, it's a throbbing and sharp pain while sitting. When using the walker to get from my now famous BIG chair to the men's room or kitchen, the pain is almost unbearable. In addition to Rx'ing the Oxy, Doc also referred me to our local pain mgmt clinic, as I've been on and off the the Norco (sometimes at max dosage) since June 28th, the day after surgery #1 right through to the 4th surgery on 2-26-20.

I knew this day was coming, and it's particularly hard for me, because as mentioned somewhere in this or perhaps another thread, I quit drinking 26.5 years ago and have never looked backed. I was a guy with a huge capacity for wine and beer, but never much of a hard liquor drinker.

My question for the forum is a simple one. Have those you who've had the explant surgery done and had the spacer installed experienced this level of pain? Will it subside over time, during the 12 weeks that it's in there, or is this level of pain typical for this procedure. To articulate a bit, the OS said that in his experience, anyone with an infection as bad as mine was/is, has always resulted in at least a minor loosening of the implants, thus making it easier to get them out during the surgery. H e told me mine were still rock solidly in place which made the surgery much more time consuming, and as he put it, heavy duty. The heavy duty part being the amount of force and time needed to complete the surgery.
I know this fact can be a huge contributor to the post op pain, but folks, this version of pain is off the charts.

I know I'm only a week out and have to be patient, which I'm doing, but lordy, this pain just takes my breath away. Okay, enough on that question. Last time I posted I think I said I'd reveal the two new Antibiotics I'm on via the PICC line. They are Dalvance, once a week for a total of 4 weeks, with each infusion taking 35 to 45 minutes and being done at the ID Doc's office. The next drug is called Invanz. I get this from a hanging bag, at home, once per day, every day, for 6 weeks. The total infusion time on this one is 30ish minutes. Then of course there are the combination of antibiotics that are in the actual spacer itself. I don't know what those drugs are.

The incision seems to be healing nicely thus far. The drainage is going down by quite a bit as each day goes by. This is a good thing, in my mind. Lastly, my blood #'s are a bit confusing, but the team isn't worried about them at this point. The main one for me is the C Reactive Protein. it went from 1.03, to 1.40, to 11.8 (pre surgery) and as of this past Monday, that number was 25. something. Both ID Doc and OS said this is typical after this type of surgery, given the amount of force that had to be used to get the original implants out. I'll be curious to see what next Monday's numbers are.

I don't have much to add here. I'm kind of in the hurry up and wait mode now. Upcoming Dr and clinic visits are as follows. This weekend, into ID Doc's clinic for # infusion of Dalvance, Monday, home health care for a PICC line dressing change as well as my weekly blood draw, Tuesday, go to ID Doc for an overall after care update visit, and lastly, Wed, to the OS to have sutures removed (uh oh) and a general follow up. I'm going to request an X-Ray to see if spacer is still where it belongs as well.

Full disclosure, this was written while I was under the influence of Max dose of Oxycodone, 2- 10Mg tabs taken at 4:50PM cst. If anything seems out of sorts, that's why. I'm not myself right now due to these narcotics. This part of the recovery (being on the narcotic) is my least favorite. I detest the way they make me feel in the brain. If they were actually killing a good amount of pain, my inner self would be more willing to accept this state for the time being. But......

have a great rest of the week and thanks in advance for any thoughts, comments, or advice.

Best to everyone

Westy

6-27-19 TLHR
12-19-19 Repair of Glut Ned Tendon surgery on left hip
1-30-20 Clean up of infected joint with new ceramic ball and polyethylene cup
2-26-20 Explant surgery
 

BoneSmart #1 Best Blog

Staff online

Forum statistics

Threads
65,180
Messages
1,597,058
BoneSmarties
39,364
Latest member
All2Gd88
Recent bookmarks
0

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom