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@izabel

Hi @mrfish I have followed your journey and ups and downs with interest. I am in a similar position and would gratefully accept anyone's advice. I am 70 years old and retired having lived a healthy life until .....

I had my left hip replacement in December 2014 following a fall after finishing radiotherapy for a breast cancer operation in October 2013. All went well with the recuperation of the hip replacement following 6 weeks of no weight bearing using a walker for 6 weeks and 18 PT sessions (quite useless actually).

In October 2017 I had another fall and after two hospital visits, X-Rays, MRI and PT for knee problems, during which time I could not walk, a visit to a private Ortho Specialist in February suggested it was more hip than knee problems and took an X-Ray which showed the stem was loose and had slipped. Briefly, back to original Surgeon, a car accident on the way to pre--ops and 3 hospitals later I came home with a knee replacement, hop revision to be done 6 months later after bone strengthening due to diagnosis of Osteoporosis. Six months pass and October 18 hip revision scheduled. Opened up and infection discovered, hip and femur power washed, spacer installed and put in isolation on IV antibiotics. Five days later infection identified as E-Col, put o appropriate antibiotics (Amoxcillin/Clavulanic Acid) via IV and taken out of isolation. After 8 days taken off IV due to veins collapsing, put on tablets 3xday and sent home with 'no weight bearing' instructions. I have to have blood tests every two weeks and this week was told things going well and cut back medication to 2xday due to my weight (115lns), I have to have 4 weeks clear before replacement can be scheduled.

I am finding it difficult to manage life in general. My staples were removed last Friday and I have a well healed scar. My problem is I cannot manage hopping or standing on one foot. My husband is a Godsend but I know it is a strain on him mentally and physically as I did everything (shopping/cooking/cleaning/gardening) for 50 years besides working full time.

Sorry this is so long but I just need support and encouragement to get me through this difficult time.

.... Disabled in Portugal ....

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PS And to add to my woes I have a 5cm leg length deficiency due to the fall.

Dear Izobel, I'm sorry to hear your story. I can identify totally. The blood tests are to monitor to infection mine went from sky high to normal within 4 weeks of discharge from hospital. I hope and pray the same will be the case for you. It is a huge strain on our partners, I too did all and worked consequently my husband had a breakdown as a result of 6 lots of surgery in 2 years ( one being emergency surgery and 12 hours later our daughter had to have an emergency Caesarian. Our grandson was 1 year old a few weeks ago. You really couldn't make my story up!!!!). My leg too was a lot shorter at least 4 cm, following the first stage op but my surgeon promised me he would correct this with the second stage. This is what happened so have faith. I really wish you well. There is light at the end of the tunnel.