Living without hip joint after replacement has been removed permanent!

Hello....I am 72 and have been living without a left hip joint for 2.5 years now. My original hip replacement became infected after 17 years resulting in necrosis, osteomyelitis of femur and pelvis. I am walking with a walker at home and crutches when I go out. I do daily exercises for strengthening and also ride an upright exercise bike. I find it easier than a recumbent bike. I can walk short distances in the home with no aide and can use one crutch pretty good. My good leg does most of the work and about 9 months ago I tore the meniscus on that knee, but it's getting better and I continue with strengthening. I'm in Michigan and we just got back from a 10 day camp trip in our camper and fishing in our pontoon. I have very little pain. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have. Wishing your husband all the best.....Cindy

Thank you very much Cindy for your positive and hopeful post. We are in Vancouver Canada.
Sounds similar to what we have just gone through with the Nexrosis of ball head. My husband is 75.
We just got him home last wk.
We now have a pyhsio who is willing to work with us and even she hasn’t had any experience with how to rehabilitate this so is starting from scratch with her knowledge of the area. He realizes he cannot move sideways or the bone on bone will contact and that pain seems horrible.
He can just get out of bed and onto wheelchair.
Good to know your opinion on recumbent bike as we do have one but I can know understand way it may not be the best option.
Even our surgeon doesn’t have any knowledge of others living a full life without a hip.
So you’ve encouraged me saying there still be be a life worth living going forward!
Thanks again and good luck with more camping trips!
So we will continue

Hello....I'm glad your husband is home and has a therapist to work with. My physical therapists didn't have any knowledge of this procedure either, but just basically helped with strengthening. You want to keep your quad muscles, back, knees and buttocks as strong as possible to compensate for no hip joint and carry your weight. Eventually scar tissue will form inside and pad the bony areas and fill in the gaps. I slept on my back for about the first 6-8 months with only occasional time on my unaffected side with pillow between my legs, then eventually I could fall asleep at night on my unaffected side (always with pillow between legs) and about 6 months ago, I started to sleep on my left side where hip was removed and it feels just fine with no pain. I never really figured that would happen, so I was pleased when it did! It's all a long process, but things continue to improve for me even now. I was very depressed, naturally, after this happened to me and asked to go on an antidepressant. I take Prozac 10mg a day and it has kept me in a positive mood. I tried to go off it after a year or so, but 2-3 months later, I was feeling sorry for myself again so I'm on it for life, I guess. We have to stay positive, so whatever it takes is my motto. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have. You can send me a private message any time if you'd like. Wishing you and your husband all the best.....Cindy

Good day Cindy
Thanks again for your insight!
I’m sure happy for you that you are staying positive and “doing whatever it takes” I’m stealing that motto!
Mine right now is “one day at a time”
I can see this traumatic turn of events in one’s life could trigger a depression. It’s life altering for sure.
For the individual and for your caregiver.
It sure sounds like you have taken taken control and are determined to make the best of it
Derek has Parkinson’s/essential tremor also which not only puts his balance at risk but has had depression/anxiety for several yrs.
While in hospital they discontinued a couple meds so we’ll have to watch this carefully. (He’s ok at the moment) Our brain is sensitive and I do believe we have to nurture it.
I’m reading your comments to Derek
to give him some realistic hope from someone that’s been there!
His exercises are difficult and he’s exhausted after but we are focusing on exactly what you did.
A few are difficult for the hip so we’ve backed up a little.
I don’t know if it’s the bones or maybe just the muscles hurt from using them after 5 months.
She has given him the wheelchair squat. Sit stand to walker and transfer weight from good leg to bad leg and sit back down. This has been the hardest so far. But a real important one I’m sure.
I’m waiting for a shoe lift of 3 inches and that may make it better.
As we have just started with these exercises I’m realizing now this is going to be a long process.
I was amazed when you said you could go camping. How do you manage stairs?
That is going to be our big goal.
He is stuck in the house at the moment as he came home in a stretcher. We have 2stairs into the garage. We are very fortunate that he only needs the upper floor of our home
Not sure what to do there yet. If he won’t get to be able to conquer stairs I’ll have to do a ramp.
How did you manage to conquer stairs?
I know I’m rambling on and thanks for your patience. I promise I won’t inundate you with questions.
You said I could contact you directly but I’m not sure how to do that?
So I’m giving you my email which you could email or text!
I really appreciate you taking the time to give us your suggestions and
thoughts.
One last question.
Have you ever been on a plane since this happened? Derek is from Wales and we have always gone back every yr. But he’s thinking he’ll never get back.😓

@cthomas1554001, for your safety, your personal contact information has been removed as per the Community Guidelines (https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/about-connect/tab/community-guidelines/). We recommend sharing personal contact information using the secure private message function rather than in the public forum.

However, I'd also like to point out the benefit of sharing here in the support group where you all receive support and information from several people and learn from each other.

Thank you I understand completely!

Hi, I too have had a Girdlestone, a little over 1 year ago. You mention you were waiting for a shoe lift of 3 inches. Could you tell a little more about that process and where you went for that?

The first orthotics and prosthetics clinic we went to didn't know what to do with me because they had never encountered someone who had had a Girdlestone. There is about a 4 and 1/2 " difference in my leg lengths. That's a really tall shoe lift and my husband is afraid I'll turn my ankle on it..

Hello..."one day at a time" is a perfect motto in the early stages as I well remember. After my surgery, I was in the hospital for 3 weeks and had physical therapy there and asked them to teach me how to do steps as we were vacationing in Florida (1000 miles from home) in our camper at the time this happened. I had to learn to navigate steps so we could eventually make the trip home to Michigan in our 5th wheel camper. I'm sure your therapist can teach your husband how to do this too, and it sounds like they are giving him some good starter exercises. For steps, I use one crutch and a handrail. You have to think "Up with the good, down with the bad" , meaning when going up the step you put good foot up first, and when going down step, you start with the bad foot. I can go down our basement stairs (14 steps) with handrail and one crutch. I can do up to 3 or 4 steps with just 2 crutches if there's no handrail, but I rarely have to do that. The shoe lift will definitely help to even out his legs and balance. I'm about 2.5 to 3 inches shorter on that leg. I actually had my husband make my shoes by glueing soles from one shoe onto the other to build them up and then he puts silicone around it to smooth it out. I'm not sure if I can attach picture here to show you. I have about 10 pairs of shoes he's made me! Haha! I'm sure your husband will be able to fly again. There should be no reason why he can't when he's feeling stronger. I realize someday, I may end up spending most of my time in a wheelchair, but I'm trying to hold out as long as possible for that. I was in good shape and walked 5 miles daily before this happened to me. We have friends who's son has been in wheelchair since age 17 from motorcycle accident and Brian is now 46, married with 3 kids and nothing slows him down much. I admire him for his positive attitude all these years. I hope you can open the private message I sent you on this website and respond to me there also. Time for us to head out to go camping now. We have a small pontoon and so we drive separately. I pull the pontoon boat and my husband pulls the 5th wheel camper. Yes....I can drive with no problem. I'm missing my left hip and drive with my right foot, but to be honest, I don't think I would have a problem even if it were my other hip. Plus, there are always hand controls that can be installed on a vehicle for paralyzed people like my friend, Brian. That's what he uses. I'll be offline for the next week, but look forward to hearing from you again....Wishing your husband all the best and keep up with those exercises....Cindy

Hi there
I’m sorry to hear that you have the same issue. But with bits and pieces of information from others hopefully will make your new life a bit better.
We are getting a sturdy shoe that my husband had and the store say they cut a layer off the bottom. put in the lift and then glue back the bottom of the shoe.
I understand what you are saying about the height may be high.
I haven’t received it back yet so can’t address this.
My husband can’t put any weight on his leg yet so it something we will work toward.
We live in Vancouver Canada and are getting this from a shoe store that specializes in orthotics and health shoes. It is called Kintec.
Hopefully this may help you!
Good luck with your journey.
Are you able to walk yet?
Good luck!

Wow. I didn’t know it was even possible to walk without a hip. You’ve been through so much and seem to be doing well, with such a positive attitude. So good to know. Can’t believe that happened after 17 years. Were you super active after your hip replacement? I had one 7 years ago and feel I’m too active. Scared I’m going to wear it down and have problems. Thanks for all your information. Gives people hope in case there are future problems.