I was born with a congenital hip dislocation and had 3 surgeries between the ages of 2 and 15. At the age of 26 (1985) I had a THR. There were 3 revisions, the last in 2006 at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. In 2013 I was admitted with sepsis, a massive mrsa infection which later mutated into visa. March 2014 the prosthesis was removed and I spent 2 1/2 years in a wheelchair and on IV antibiotics most of that time. Last summer my case was taken over by another surgeon who deemed it unwise to try another revision and we agreed. A new infectious disease doctor changed antibiotis and I am now mrsa/visa free. I have no hip and no spacers, the femur is significantly shorter, leg length difference is 3 1/2 inches. The new surgeon has me walking with walker and crutches and a 3 inch lift on my shoe. 3 months physical therapy to strengthen muscles atrophied from so much time in the wheelchair. I am about to move to one crutch, and the goal is a cane. Xrays show excellent build up of scar tissue supporting the leg. My original question was wondering if there are others having the same experience.
Hello! I currently have no hip joint or spacers. My hip replacement got infected then removed about a year and a half ago and with exercise I am able to walk with out a crutch. Of course I have a limp cause there’s about a 3 -3 1/2 inch length difference. I use a cane in public to help with the limp. But I can ride the bike walk up stairs it just took some work to get to this point but it’s possible!
@nicoleb21809 Hi, and welcome to Connect.
It must be difficult to get around without your hip replacement. Will they replace it eventually? That's great that you can still get some exercise riding a bike too.
I hope you will tell us more about the eventual plans, if there are some.
JK
@nicoleb21809 Hi, and welcome to Connect.
It must be difficult to get around without your hip replacement. Will they replace it eventually? That's great that you can still get some exercise riding a bike too.
I hope you will tell us more about the eventual plans, if there are some.
JK
I have a girdlestone hip too. My hip was crushed by an accident. My hip replacement was removed because of an infextion. With no hip replacement i can walk complete pain free. I dont need a stick, cruch or anything. I can ride a bike too. Besides iam a Bodybuilder and i can still do some squats. I habe absolutely no problems with sex and i can do much thinks i could not do with a hip replacement. I can even reach my toes from standing. I would not want a new hip. The only annoing thing is the length difference of 7 cm.
I have a girdlestone hip too. My hip was crushed by an accident. My hip replacement was removed because of an infextion. With no hip replacement i can walk complete pain free. I dont need a stick, cruch or anything. I can ride a bike too. Besides iam a Bodybuilder and i can still do some squats. I habe absolutely no problems with sex and i can do much thinks i could not do with a hip replacement. I can even reach my toes from standing. I would not want a new hip. The only annoing thing is the length difference of 7 cm.
I was born with a congenital hip dislocation and had 3 surgeries between the ages of 2 and 15. At the age of 26 (1985) I had a THR. There were 3 revisions, the last in 2006 at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. In 2013 I was admitted with sepsis, a massive mrsa infection which later mutated into visa. March 2014 the prosthesis was removed and I spent 2 1/2 years in a wheelchair and on IV antibiotics most of that time. Last summer my case was taken over by another surgeon who deemed it unwise to try another revision and we agreed. A new infectious disease doctor changed antibiotis and I am now mrsa/visa free. I have no hip and no spacers, the femur is significantly shorter, leg length difference is 3 1/2 inches. The new surgeon has me walking with walker and crutches and a 3 inch lift on my shoe. 3 months physical therapy to strengthen muscles atrophied from so much time in the wheelchair. I am about to move to one crutch, and the goal is a cane. Xrays show excellent build up of scar tissue supporting the leg. My original question was wondering if there are others having the same experience.
After hip replacement surgery 3 years ago which had to be removed because of infection and several more attempts at revision, it was deemed too risky to try again. i currently have no hip and about to start P/T to strengthen what is left. I am very motivated and pray, pray, pray that I should be lucky enough to have half your success in walking. I detest having to have others do for me.
@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)
did you also have considerable bone loss as I do after so many attempts to replace your hip? I pray I can achieve some success in walking without a walker.
After hip replacement surgery 3 years ago which had to be removed because of infection and several more attempts at revision, it was deemed too risky to try again. i currently have no hip and about to start P/T to strengthen what is left. I am very motivated and pray, pray, pray that I should be lucky enough to have half your success in walking. I detest having to have others do for me.
Yes I’ve had significant leg length difference. I have always worn a shoe with a lift but we had to increase it. It has been almost a year since last surgery where I was left without a hip. I’m doing very well though do need a walker. I might be able to advance to 2 canes. Still some limitations but wow after 8 years no more infections!
At the beginning there was much pain, even with a Cane. I could not walk far distances and i needed much pain medication. But in a few month the pain disapeard and finally i put away my cane. Your Body can compensate the missing hip joint very good, if you work for it every day. But for all this effort you get a nearly normal life back. I live in the 4th floor and i still have no elevator.
Yes I’ve had significant leg length difference. I have always worn a shoe with a lift but we had to increase it. It has been almost a year since last surgery where I was left without a hip. I’m doing very well though do need a walker. I might be able to advance to 2 canes. Still some limitations but wow after 8 years no more infections!
I would see if the Lim Lab in Rochester can help you out. They have all sorts of creative solutions for medical issues related to mobility. My husband has struggled to walk after 4 foot and ankle reconstruction/fusing surgeries. He literally was walking on the SIDE of his foot at one point. They have helped him immensely. He had his doctor write a prescription for CUSTOM orthotics, both feet.
Besides the "routine" orthotics, I know there is something pending that might help a lot of people who have foot sores that won't heal, unusual custom braces, etc.
did you also have considerable bone loss as I do after so many attempts to replace your hip? I pray I can achieve some success in walking without a walker.
If you do surgery again, see if they can do a bone graft. My husband just had a total shoulder because he was bone on bone, and also where the bones are in the shoulder, the bone was narrow on the curve, and unfortunately he has some really large "cysts" that filled up with synovial fluid, but REPLACED the bone, so had he fallen, he could have crushed it. The surgeon said he was fortunate to do the surgery now, had he waited, and the bone area got less than 50%, they would never be able to do the surgery. When they did the surgery and scraped out the bones, those cysts break open and fluid comes out. So when they cut off that round shoulder joint bone, they used his own bone material, packed in into the "holes" created by the cysts, and they said his own bone will now fill the empty bone areas, and fuse/grow! Maybe something like that would help you. He did his at Mayo Clinic in Rochester.
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Hello! I currently have no hip joint or spacers. My hip replacement got infected then removed about a year and a half ago and with exercise I am able to walk with out a crutch. Of course I have a limp cause there’s about a 3 -3 1/2 inch length difference. I use a cane in public to help with the limp. But I can ride the bike walk up stairs it just took some work to get to this point but it’s possible!
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4 Reactions@nicoleb21809 Hi, and welcome to Connect.
It must be difficult to get around without your hip replacement. Will they replace it eventually? That's great that you can still get some exercise riding a bike too.
I hope you will tell us more about the eventual plans, if there are some.
JK
I have a girdlestone hip too. My hip was crushed by an accident. My hip replacement was removed because of an infextion. With no hip replacement i can walk complete pain free. I dont need a stick, cruch or anything. I can ride a bike too. Besides iam a Bodybuilder and i can still do some squats. I habe absolutely no problems with sex and i can do much thinks i could not do with a hip replacement. I can even reach my toes from standing. I would not want a new hip. The only annoing thing is the length difference of 7 cm.
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Hug
1 Reaction@gerhard9321 you sound very fortunate to be able to do so well, I am impressed. Some of that must be your own determination.
JK
After hip replacement surgery 3 years ago which had to be removed because of infection and several more attempts at revision, it was deemed too risky to try again. i currently have no hip and about to start P/T to strengthen what is left. I am very motivated and pray, pray, pray that I should be lucky enough to have half your success in walking. I detest having to have others do for me.
did you also have considerable bone loss as I do after so many attempts to replace your hip? I pray I can achieve some success in walking without a walker.
Yes I’ve had significant leg length difference. I have always worn a shoe with a lift but we had to increase it. It has been almost a year since last surgery where I was left without a hip. I’m doing very well though do need a walker. I might be able to advance to 2 canes. Still some limitations but wow after 8 years no more infections!
At the beginning there was much pain, even with a Cane. I could not walk far distances and i needed much pain medication. But in a few month the pain disapeard and finally i put away my cane. Your Body can compensate the missing hip joint very good, if you work for it every day. But for all this effort you get a nearly normal life back. I live in the 4th floor and i still have no elevator.
I would see if the Lim Lab in Rochester can help you out. They have all sorts of creative solutions for medical issues related to mobility. My husband has struggled to walk after 4 foot and ankle reconstruction/fusing surgeries. He literally was walking on the SIDE of his foot at one point. They have helped him immensely. He had his doctor write a prescription for CUSTOM orthotics, both feet.
Besides the "routine" orthotics, I know there is something pending that might help a lot of people who have foot sores that won't heal, unusual custom braces, etc.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionIf you do surgery again, see if they can do a bone graft. My husband just had a total shoulder because he was bone on bone, and also where the bones are in the shoulder, the bone was narrow on the curve, and unfortunately he has some really large "cysts" that filled up with synovial fluid, but REPLACED the bone, so had he fallen, he could have crushed it. The surgeon said he was fortunate to do the surgery now, had he waited, and the bone area got less than 50%, they would never be able to do the surgery. When they did the surgery and scraped out the bones, those cysts break open and fluid comes out. So when they cut off that round shoulder joint bone, they used his own bone material, packed in into the "holes" created by the cysts, and they said his own bone will now fill the empty bone areas, and fuse/grow! Maybe something like that would help you. He did his at Mayo Clinic in Rochester.