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

Discussion
Comment receiving replies
@mrfish

I made it to my 3-month anniversary last week (finishing antibiotics) and within just a couple of days I think it's back (and, of course, it shows up on a Friday evening so I can't get in to see my infectious disease doc until Monday). If I need to go through it all again, I think I need to consider something different. @lynzze, you and others have recommended getting into a Mayo facility, where did you go? I see there's a facility in Scottsdale, AZ (and it's in-network with my insurance). The idea of extended travel for this worries me, but there's that saying about the definition of insanity...

Jump to this post


Replies to "I made it to my 3-month anniversary last week (finishing antibiotics) and within just a couple..."

Hi! I’m new to this Mayo Clinic connect. I was searching for living with an antibiotic spacer and mobility expectations when I came across your original post back in November 2017. I’ve been looking at this thread and I see you’re quite far in your journey. I’m so sorry the infection appears to be back. I just had surgery in May at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota. I’m from Texas. I lived with my staff infection for about 4 1/2 years on suppressive therapy (Bactrim 1 pill a day) when I saw a sought a second opinion from the infectious disease and orthopedic surgeon at the Mayo. I traveled with my mom and we took our two small dogs with us. We knew we would be there for at least the six weeks of IV antibiotic treatment after I got my spacer put in. I rented a small house through Home Away that worked out well. I did some research through the male clinic and they had housing recommendations but those I found didn’t take dogs or I would have used one of them. Of course I had time to do a lot of planning because it took me a long while to really commit and make the decision once they gave me their opinion. It differed from my doctors here in Texas and I was confused. I have a very good surgeon here in Texas as well as my infectious disease doctor but I was 42 at the time and they were worried about me losing my hip entirely because I’ve had so many surgeries on it in the past and I don’t have a whole lot of bone left. I’m happy to say that the infectious disease doctors and the surgeon at the Mayo are amazing. My level of care there was outstanding and I am hopeful this infection is gone. I am trying to make it a full year with my spacer to make sure before I try to do it all over again. I definitely feel that finding the right surgeon is the best. I’m not sure what type of infection you have or your timeframe on things but if I can help answer any questions on traveling for surgery I’m happy to help anyway I can. I was looking at the various Mayo Clinic locations and I went to Rochester because I had read an article of what they were working on for a non-surgical cure implant related infections and that was being done in Rochester. I had hoped that they were closer and perhaps I could wait a bit longer but it appears there a long way off. From what I am told of others who have been at the Mayo Clinic Rochester was an excellent choice for orthopedics and infectious disease.