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.

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