@hip2012, thank you for finding the discussion on walking without a hip joint and sharing your story. Also, welcome to Connect! It sounds like you have had quite the frustrating journey in recent years, I hope that this most recent battle with infections goes more smoothly and you can get your hip back in.

I would like to invite back @dzoneill back to this discussion as the original poster looking to also Connect with someone who does not have a hip joint. Dzoneill may have some advice on how to deal without having a hip joint.

@hip2012, you mentioned your original problem was AVN, if you are comfortable, would you mind sharing what that is and a bit more about that?

Hi I am 34 years old and I've had my left hip removed with no replacement I got osteomylitis and was in severe pain the doctors refused to do blood work or xrays thinking due to my age I was over exaggerating I went to the er 4 different times without xrays or blood work. When I was finally taken seriously my hip was gone, completely eaten away by infection and it was septic. I spent 3 months hospitalized I'm in pain everyday it's been over a year now and no talk of a replacement Dr's tell me they have to make sure the infection is gone but it's been over a year I'm losing muscle I'm in a wheelchair and I'm questioning how ethical it is to leave a. 34 year old without a hip. I can't work, my husband can't work. I need 24 hour care and things are getting rough.

Hello, I'm sorry your going thru this. I know how you feel Doctors dont listen to their patients. I'm currently without a hip its been almost 5 months. I believe my infection is gone now i was on IV antibiotics and then oral antibiotics and then i got pneumonia. I'm gonna DEMAND my hip be put back in. I went thru 1 total hip replacement and 2 revision i also live in pain everyday. Thank God for our husbands. I don't know many men that would deal with al of this.. Good Luck

Good to know u r well 

@bjg883 well I know how you feel but unfortunately the doctors do what is best for your health vs. what would make our lives easier. I went 4+ years without a hip because I had 4 THRs fail due to infection and they told me the best thing to do was to leave it out as long as possible. The longer you can go without infection the better your chances will be for a successful reimplantation. Now nothing is guaranteed obviously... even after leaving mine our for four year #5 still got infected and they had to remove it and said that I was no longer a candidate for THR because my body would basically reject it. Obviously my case is rare but it does happen and i'm only 35. Have you applied for disability?? Some state programs pay for someone to come into your home and help you so your spouse could work. I was lucky enough to still be able to walk without a hip (at 1 yr. post op) plus I was already on disability (because it has been going on for 12 years)

I'd say, it's more unethical to perform another surgery on someone who has had a hip eaten away by infection, was septic and has spent 3 months in the hospital. Why would you want another surgery? Your risk of getting another infection is much greater due to what you've already been through. You know that staph can hide in your body for years and then just show up one day right? You need to start working on your upper body strength so you can get out of that wheelchair and onto a walker and maybe on a cane later. I've been living without a hip for almost 15 months. I started walking 3 days after the final hip was removed, in the hospital. I had already taught myself to walk 3 times after 3 surgeries. I'm never having another hip replacement surgery, I'm far too scared. I've had 2 staph infections and I'm not getting a 3rd. Too risky. You need to start a medical malpractice case against the idiots who told you you were exaggerating and invest that money in a house so you have a roof over your head. Your life does not have to be over, not by a long shot. Get pro active about your care and take your body back! You can do it.