1. < Bones, Joints & Muscles

Living without a hip

Posted by mary121658 @mary121658, Dec 5, 2018

Does anyone know how it is to be without a hip. I've had 4 surgeries in the past 6 months all due to infections in the artificial hip. The hip was removed and replaced with a spacer and that got infected within weeks. They removed the spacer and put antibiotic seeds in. I've been without a hip since June. I can't walk, have sex or even stand for a minute. I'm on antibiotics permanently which I believe after so much they no longer work. I don't even know how I got the first infection cuz I had the hip replacement for over a year when I woke up screaming one day. Any advice would be appreciated. Oh I don't have much luck with this kind of surgery cuz the other hip was done 3 years before the 2nd one and that leg is useless. The surgeon cut nerves and I woke up screaming and a neurologist did nerve conduction studies and found I had RSD. Very excruciating painful disease due to the mistakes made during surgery. I have drop foot and rotation up above the knee so I can't even count on that leg for help in walking. If anyone has experience with this I'd appreciate hearing from you

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Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | 6 days ago
In reply to @deborah47 "I'd like to know if I don't have my "crushed" left hip replacement (which does create..." + (show)
@deborah47

I'd like to know if I don't have my "crushed" left hip replacement (which does create very painful left leg down to the foot), what are the alternatives? The reason I ask is I was all prepared for surgery when at the last minute my primary dr called about the chest xray he rec'd. I once had Valley Fever a scar on the lung which he knows about. I think I may have a 2nd scarring due to RSV Virus from November 2021 he didn't treat, which kept me in bed for a month.
I breathe fine - just no deep deep breaths. What are my alternatives if he doesn't want me to go ahead now with the surgery? I'm 78. Left hip is all crumbled like little stones they said, simply nothing there and right hip which hasn't been problematic is bone on bone. Left leg hurts a lot especially when in bed at night.

Thanks for advice,
Deborah78

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Hell, and welcome to Mayo Connect. We don't give medical advice here, but I can talk a little about possible alternatives to fully-anesthetized surgery (I'm assuming you are thinking he will be wary of doing surgery?)
Several years ago, I had a serious lung infection that compromised my lungs, and I needed my gall bladder removed. The surgeon consulted with my pulmonologist and they determined that with extra caution, I could have the operation - but they did it in a hospital instead of a same-day surgery center.
More recently, I needed clearance from my cardiologist before the orthopedic surgeon would operate on my shoulder. After several discussions of options, we decided to go ahead - all went well again.
What are they proposing to do with the crumbled hip?

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