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What kind of mobility can I expect with an antibiotic spacer in my hip
Joint Replacements | Last Active: Jun 23, 2023 | Replies (279)Comment receiving replies
Here's my most recent update: I'm scheduled to have my next (and hopefully last) hip surgery on Wednesday, Feb 14, when they plan to remove the antibiotic spacer and install fully-functional new hardware -- just about three months since the spacer was installed.
I had to undergo two hip aspirations a few weeks ago (where a loooong needle is used to draw fluid from the joint). During the first one, they drew some fluid but someone messed up and they weren't able to culture the sample (it was mistakenly sent for processing to a lab out of state and too much time had passed). So, they scheduled a not-very-happy me for a second aspiration but unfortunately weren't able to get any fluid that time.
According to the docs, my blood work looks good. It is frustrating to me that throughout all of this there were no successful cultures to figure out what kind of microbe was causing my infection, nor (most recently) to confirm that the infection is truly cleared out. There are only the indirect indicators from blood & lab work. My ortho tells me that during this week's surgery, samples will be taken -- and processed -- while I'm still on the operating table. If those indicate that there is still an infection, they will abort the installation of working hardware and instead re-implant another antibiotic spacer. However, he said that they have never had that occur. I guess that gives me some comfort?
But (beside having this blasted spacer in my hip and its' pain & limitations) I feel good and I have no reason to believe the infection isn't gone. I'm looking forward to this next surgery and the recovery that will come after that. I'm looking forward to putting the last six (or so) challenging months behind me -- I just can't shake this fear in the back of my mind of possibly having to go through this all again should an infection reoccur.
I'm not driving myself, but for these last few weeks, I have been going in to work at the office for three days a week (M,W,F) and using crutches. While seated at my desk, I need to get up and move around a little bit every 30 minutes or so. If I go longer, it's much more painful and harder to get things worked out and moving again. Fortunately, I have a motorized stand-up desk that I can put up or down and I'll also sometimes spend a little time standing and shifting some weight between both legs. I still cannot bear much more than 50% normal weight on my right leg.
At home, I prefer to use the walker, it's just so much more convenient. The extra activity certainly comes with additional pain. Right now, after being at work all day today, I my visibly swollen right leg elevated and an ice pack on my hip.
I'll post another update next week after my surgery. Fingers crossed.
Replies to "Here's my most recent update: I'm scheduled to have my next (and hopefully last) hip surgery..."
Thanks for getting us current on your upcoming surgery.. I can relate to much of what you have to say about the spacer and pain and limitations and the lingering fear that you might have to go through this again. This is a challenging journey. I see my ortho doc on Thursday to see what my lab work is. I'm not expecting the fungal infection to be gone but hoping the numbers are coming down. I know my THR is somewhere in my future but don't know when. Wishing you a totally successful surgery and recovery. Stay in touch and let us know how you are doing.
Froggy1 - you are an inspiration to have gone through so much and still have a sense of humor. Sounds like you have accepted your condition and are coping quite well under the circumstances. You are very brave! Wishing you the best!
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Mr.Fish. You are very, very brave. I will be praying for your infection to be looooong gone and to NEVER come back. I say you're brave because I've chosen to not undergo another surgery (which would have been a 2 stage and new PICC lines after each stage "just in case") For me 4 surgeries and 2 staph infections was all I could do. Also, in between dislocation 2 and re-vision of the liner in my pelvis, I had breast cancer surgery. They removed a lump from my breast and 3 lymph nodes from my arm pit (to check if it had spread, and it did not) and a week later I had the revision where I caught the first staph infection. While I was home with the first PICC line, Nurses started calling me telling me they wanted me to do radiation. I passed. Just didn't have it in me. I did enough research on radiation to make an informed decision and I've been talking to people about CBDs, which is derived from marijuana. Not quite there yet either. But at my 6 month mammogram I was cancer free so I'm keeping my fingers crossed:) The end of February will be my 1 year mark of having that hip joint removed. It's a process getting used to but I'm doing quite well. Everyday is different (they just had to add another inch to the bottom of my left shoe, so now I'm at around 3 inches shorter on that side.) Sitting too long, driving too long and walking too much will probably always be an issue. The good news is I've only fallen once in the last 4 months! And it was more like a trip and fall. (stepping into the shower I forgot to grab the safety bar, tried to step in with my right foot first, bad move, it left all my weight on the wrong side and on top of that I didn't lift my leg up high enough and stubbed all my toes before not so gracefully going down.) It's a good thing that I can laugh at myself, because it was a laugh or cry moment and I chose to laugh. Plus my dog was standing behind me when I got up looking at me like "not again, would you just get up"? Enough yakking about me. Think good thoughts, take some deep breaths and think of your favorite person or place before they sedate you. I've been told that if the last thing you picture before going under is something pleasant, you'll wake up thinking that same thought and you'll feel fine. It worked for me 5 times!! You're gonna do great. I'm always available to talk and or listen if you need to.... Robin