What kind of mobility can I expect with an antibiotic spacer in my hip

Hello @mrfish,

Welcome to Connect. thank you so much for sharing your information; we're glad you've joined us.

We have a few discussions on Connect where members have talked about total hip replacement, infection and spacers:
– Walking without a hip joint https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/walking-without-a-hip-joint/
– End of stem pain after total hip replacement https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/end-of-stem-pain-after-total-hip-replacement/
– THR, Anterior Approach - 3 week mark https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/thr-anterior-approach-3-week-mark/

@kenman @geek_girl @lynzze @hip2012 @mnpat @grandmacheryl @popolopo @sma1952 @leigh60 @amber67, would you join me in welcoming @mrfish, and share your experiences?

Still pain after 2.5 years, wondering if it is sciatic nerve ?

@mrfish welcome to connect! This forum will hopefully provide you with some useful information as it did me!
First off my name is Lindsay from Missouri . I have undergone 5 hip replacements and a few antibiotic hip spacers all on my left hip. I have been thru 4 of those due to infection. So I'm kind of an expert when it comes to this subject lol
The hip spacer itself isn't terrible...its a little bit longer recovery and not as comfortable as an actual replacement however its far better than going without a hip. Mine worked great and did its job along with the iv antibiotics.
So if you don't mind me asking...how long have they said you might have the spacer?? In my opinion the longer you can keep the spacer and go without infection the better. Obviously I'm not a medical professional...just a professional at getting infected hip replacements lol lol
I wish you all the best and pray for a smooth recovery!
Lindsay

@lynzze I expect to have the spacer in there for 2-3 months...and hopefully only once! I'm sorry you've had to go through it so many times. Do they know why you had so many recurring infections? When was the last time you went through it all?

I received some of my pre-surgery paperwork today and was very disappointed to see that my Doc is planning to do the posterior approach to remove the current implant and to place the spacer. Perhaps that's the only way the explant can be done?? I understand that poses a more difficult recovery compared to the anterior approach, which is what I had done for the original hip job last year.

Sorry to hear both of you have had such bad experiences. I had a hip replacement 14 years ago.....my doctor did the posterior incision. I had an easy time recovering, but of course I was 14 years younger then.
Pat

@mrfish A'll of my operations have been done via the posterior incision so I can't really say if anterior is easier or not. I haven't really had issues with that approach, although, because I have had sooo many surgeries the muscle in the side of my leg/butt is virtually gone which causes me to limp more. But I didn't really have an option lol
They never pinpointed the exact reasoning behind my reacurrant staph infections other than possibly not all the infection was completely gone out of my body when the replanted. Luckily when #4 got infected I went to Mayo clinic and they advised everything being removed and leaving nothing implanted for at least 1 year. That was a hard pill to swallow. A hanging hip is no fun and the recovery process is crazy. My surgeon also advised I try to go more than a year ...he said the longer you go without staph the better chances of a successful #5. Knowing that #5 would be the last one (I'm running out of good femur) (did I mention I'm only 35 lol this has been going on for 12 years ...all a result of an automobile accident) I wanted to do everything possible to make it a success. I made it 4.5 years without a hip or spacer !! It wasn't easy however I'm happy to say I recieved my hail Mary #5 hip June of 2016 and have had no infection (so far)!!!! I'm beyond happy although now the darn thing won't stay in place lol
I have dislocated #5 3 times now 🙁 so that's no fun...2 of the dislocations required surgery. Funny enough it just dislocated last weekend so I just got home from mayo where I had surgery to repair and change a few components ... Thankfully the recovery process isn't bad so I'm doing well.
My case is definitely rare and I draw a lot of attention from amazed orthopedists when I'm at Mayo lol I'm kind of a guinea pig and up to try anything new they have available to make this darn thing work lol
I really hope your surgery goes smooth... Do your pt exercises (even though I was resistant , I know they work lol)
If you have any more questions I am here!!
Lindsay with 5 hips lol

I've had the opportunity to do some more reading tonight about anterior versus posterior approaches and I feel more at ease than I was earlier. I was under the impression that the anterior approach led to significantly shorter recovery times and that doesn't seem to be the case, or at least not as significant as I had thought. I guess one interesting aspect of my surgical travails will be a first person perspective on both the anterior and posterior methods.

And, yikes, as one of my pre-surgery tests/exams today, I was on the receiving end of a MRSA nasal swab test. At least it was over quickly, but I hope I never need one of those again.

9 days to go.

Thank you to all for your input so far. Any more insights/experience would be greatly appreciated.
Art in Alaska

@mrfish yeah those MRSA swabs are no fun! Its like they are trying to touch your brain lol lol

I am scheduled for this surgery on Tuesday of this week. I have a fungal infection but won't know about a bacterial infectiion until they do the culture following implant of the spacer. I am told there is to be no weight-bearing on my right leg which means I will be confined to a wheelchair or walker or crutches. I've tried hopping around on a walker with one foot and find it very challenging. I am 78 yo. If you are fortunate enough to get rid of the infection in the first go round, I'd be doing the happy dance for you (yes, on one foot!) I would like to see that outcome for myself but don't want to get my hopes up.

I learned on Friday that I will not be doing PT following the surgery. Maybe down the road but don't know yet. I will be in a rehab center for what I hope is a short amount of time. Also been practicing pivoting on my good leg to chairs, the toilet, etc. and then lifting myself up on one leg. I like to think my body is developing a cell memory that will help make the transition easier. I have a regular wheelchair and a friend gave me a motorized wheelchair. I've used a cabulance to take me to appointments but will try getting into the car unless the pain is too much.

I have a supportive family and have done all the work to prepare myself physically, emotionally and spiritually at the recommendation of my surgeon who incidentally took some of his training at the Mayo Clinic. I will check in asap after the surgery.

Good luck to you.

Jan in Washington State

Best of luck to you, Jan (@janelaine)! You sound strong and ready for this challenge. I have two family members that have had this same procedure done and both of them had a flawless outcome. I'm wishing the same for you! Being physically and mentally prepared was a huge help to them and it sounds like you are on that same track- good for you!

Here were a few more tips I found that will hopefully aid you in a smooth transition post operatively.
•Arrange to have a friend or relative prepare some meals for you
•Place everyday items at waist level, so you can avoid having to bend down or reach up
•Consider making some modifications to your home, such as getting a raised toilet seat if you have an usually low toilet

I'll be checking back on you!
Please let us know along the way 1) how you are feeling and 2) if you feel up to it- try to document any tips or tricks you have found useful that can be shared with the community. 🙂