@briank1958, welcome. My 2-stage revision wasn't successful, but I think the main reason it failed was because they didn't have a positive culture to know, specifically, what kind of bug was causing the infection. My understanding is that 1-stage revisions and washouts are most successful if they catch the infection very early (my ortho was talking in terms of just a few days to a week as "early"). Another thing that I'd recommend if you go the 2-stage route is to try to keep the spacer in for as long as you can to increase your chances of success. I had mine in for three months and it was taken out just as soon as my blood numbers came down and the surgery could be scheduled. I think it might have been better to have more time with the numbers down and staying down before the 2nd stage. I was miserable with the spacer and couldn't wait to get it out and I let that override the recommendations of others to try to hang in there a little longer.
My mobility with the spacer was very limited. I could only get with a walker and stairs were a real challenge (but do-able). Showers needed a bench/chair and help. There is a tremendous amount of popping and grinding in the joint which is painful and unsettling in the beginning, but does improve somewhat. I was only able to sleep on my back (a reclining chair worked the best and was where I slept most of the time).
It wasn't until after my failed 2nd stage revision and then a wash-out that they finally were able to culture which strain of staph was causing my infection. I haven't been able to regain my full range of motion, but it's pretty close to full use of my hip (90%). I think all the scar tissue from the surgeries is what limits full flexibility.

It's been a year (today!) since I completed the last of my antibiotic meds. There were some real low lows along the way, but I'm feeling good.

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