I need a walker to walk with or I'd fall down. I can take a few steps without provided I am holding onto a cupboard, chair, wall, etc. I have 3 1/2 inch leg length difference - left leg shorter - I wear a shoe with raised buildup on that leg; however I find I have to wear a moccasine or other flat shoe on right leg to balance myself out otherwise I limp badly and walking is then hard. I can go up some steps providing there is a solid right side railing; similarily can go downstairs one at a time using railing. Private message me at my email if you'd like - pfwalker@accesscomm.ca
Hello and welcome @kjz and @pdtsomerset. You both are new to this discussion and have found one another quickly. What has been your biggest challenge, respectively, that you are looking to find support from others to get through?
Good morning Kjz,
Tell me your story.
I had a girdlestone resection in April of 2018 after two jop replacement infections in less than 10mos. Both times I went sepsis n almost died. But here I am 🙂.
Feel free ask or express yourself. It's not easy but over time it becomes your normal.
I was in accident in 2010. Broken femur. They put a rod and a plate on it. Hardware worked it's way out of hip joint. 2018 due to damage from hardware moving across hip joint. The removed the joint. I now have just a plate on the femur.
Hi Koala78, my hip was removed in 2015. I also have a raised shoe and I also put in a shoe heel lift to help. Since we don’t have hips they can’t get a shoe lift just right since we don’t have any support on that side. I walk mostly with a rollator walker and I can walk short distances into like a resturant or doctors office with a cane. I use the cane with the quad cane tip that can stand alone. It gives me more support. I will walk around the house without anything but doing it too much will cause the other leg to ache because of the extra wear and the back will start hurting. I love my rollator walker because I can shoot around, do my grocery shopping or just get out and about. The regular walkers don’t allow me that freedom. You can get a rollator walker that isn’t too heavy so it isn’t so hard to put in and take out of the car. I know you are going through a lot of adjustments but you will find your way and learn to deal with it. I was a shoe nut…I loved shoes….now all I buy are New Balance running and walking shoes because I find I can balance myself with them and they last…..doing build up for the shoes can get expensive…..but I do have have neat athletic shoes now. Let me know if you have any questions.
Yes. I broke my left hip in a freak accident (playing in the ocean) and was almost cleared by my doctor and I fell and broke the femur in the same leg. I have battled infection off and on for the past two years. I had all of the hardware removed last year due to infection. I wonder if it is possible to get another hip replacement or even wise at this point?? So frustrated.
I was in accident in 2010. Broken femur. They put a rod and a plate on it. Hardware worked it's way out of hip joint. 2018 due to damage from hardware moving across hip joint. The removed the joint. I now have just a plate on the femur.
Hi KJZ
Sorry for not getting back to you sooner. It's been quite the past few months.
Wow you've been through quite a bit.
Sorry to hear of your long journey.
I've never heard of having a plate on the femur...is it painful n difficult to walk?
I was involved In an accident 4 years ago.
I was struck by a vehicle while standing next to it. Had a lot of trauma to my right side of my body. Had multiple surgeries to repair my pelvis, femur, knee, had hardware used to rebuild all the bone that was damaged. While in the hospital I acquired an infection (E-Coli) it spread all the way to my hip. The orthopedic surgeon said the bacteria was inside the bone so they would have to take out all the hardware out and cut out all the infected bone about 1/2 femur and hip.
I also had a lot of nerve & vessel damage so my leg from the knee down has no sensation and the leg retained a lot of fluid so it’s always swollen.
My knee had a lot of damage but that is the least of my problems. I been on a wheelchair for 3 years now. They put me in antibiotics for good. I want to walk again but I’m not sure if I have any hope to be able to. If anyone is going to a similar scenario I would love to hear your story and how you are dealing with it.
I was involved In an accident 4 years ago.
I was struck by a vehicle while standing next to it. Had a lot of trauma to my right side of my body. Had multiple surgeries to repair my pelvis, femur, knee, had hardware used to rebuild all the bone that was damaged. While in the hospital I acquired an infection (E-Coli) it spread all the way to my hip. The orthopedic surgeon said the bacteria was inside the bone so they would have to take out all the hardware out and cut out all the infected bone about 1/2 femur and hip.
I also had a lot of nerve & vessel damage so my leg from the knee down has no sensation and the leg retained a lot of fluid so it’s always swollen.
My knee had a lot of damage but that is the least of my problems. I been on a wheelchair for 3 years now. They put me in antibiotics for good. I want to walk again but I’m not sure if I have any hope to be able to. If anyone is going to a similar scenario I would love to hear your story and how you are dealing with it.
Hello @pedrin63 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. On top of what was, no doubt, a traumatizing accident I am sorry to hear of the resulting E-coli infection that lead to removing part of your femur and your hip. That must've been very devastating following surgery.
Your goal of walking again is fabulous. Do you feel like you have the right type of care team and/or doctors that you are working with to help you achieve that goal or get you as close to your goal as possible?
I was involved In an accident 4 years ago.
I was struck by a vehicle while standing next to it. Had a lot of trauma to my right side of my body. Had multiple surgeries to repair my pelvis, femur, knee, had hardware used to rebuild all the bone that was damaged. While in the hospital I acquired an infection (E-Coli) it spread all the way to my hip. The orthopedic surgeon said the bacteria was inside the bone so they would have to take out all the hardware out and cut out all the infected bone about 1/2 femur and hip.
I also had a lot of nerve & vessel damage so my leg from the knee down has no sensation and the leg retained a lot of fluid so it’s always swollen.
My knee had a lot of damage but that is the least of my problems. I been on a wheelchair for 3 years now. They put me in antibiotics for good. I want to walk again but I’m not sure if I have any hope to be able to. If anyone is going to a similar scenario I would love to hear your story and how you are dealing with it.
So sorry you are going through this. I recommend you look up the group Walking without a hip. I also had my hip remove and part of my pelvic bone. I was in a wheelchair for a while but I had a great therapist who worked me hard so I could walk with a walker and a raised shoe. I can also get around short distances with a cane. There are a lot of great testimonials out here on the Mayo Clinic site for walking without a hip so check them out and don’t give up hope.
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What happened to you?🫂
Just want someone who can understand 🙂
I was in accident in 2010. Broken femur. They put a rod and a plate on it. Hardware worked it's way out of hip joint. 2018 due to damage from hardware moving across hip joint. The removed the joint. I now have just a plate on the femur.
Hi Koala78, my hip was removed in 2015. I also have a raised shoe and I also put in a shoe heel lift to help. Since we don’t have hips they can’t get a shoe lift just right since we don’t have any support on that side. I walk mostly with a rollator walker and I can walk short distances into like a resturant or doctors office with a cane. I use the cane with the quad cane tip that can stand alone. It gives me more support. I will walk around the house without anything but doing it too much will cause the other leg to ache because of the extra wear and the back will start hurting. I love my rollator walker because I can shoot around, do my grocery shopping or just get out and about. The regular walkers don’t allow me that freedom. You can get a rollator walker that isn’t too heavy so it isn’t so hard to put in and take out of the car. I know you are going through a lot of adjustments but you will find your way and learn to deal with it. I was a shoe nut…I loved shoes….now all I buy are New Balance running and walking shoes because I find I can balance myself with them and they last…..doing build up for the shoes can get expensive…..but I do have have neat athletic shoes now. Let me know if you have any questions.
New balance, thanx for the info. Impressed with your progress🙂
Yes. I broke my left hip in a freak accident (playing in the ocean) and was almost cleared by my doctor and I fell and broke the femur in the same leg. I have battled infection off and on for the past two years. I had all of the hardware removed last year due to infection. I wonder if it is possible to get another hip replacement or even wise at this point?? So frustrated.
Hi KJZ
Sorry for not getting back to you sooner. It's been quite the past few months.
Wow you've been through quite a bit.
Sorry to hear of your long journey.
I've never heard of having a plate on the femur...is it painful n difficult to walk?
I was involved In an accident 4 years ago.
I was struck by a vehicle while standing next to it. Had a lot of trauma to my right side of my body. Had multiple surgeries to repair my pelvis, femur, knee, had hardware used to rebuild all the bone that was damaged. While in the hospital I acquired an infection (E-Coli) it spread all the way to my hip. The orthopedic surgeon said the bacteria was inside the bone so they would have to take out all the hardware out and cut out all the infected bone about 1/2 femur and hip.
I also had a lot of nerve & vessel damage so my leg from the knee down has no sensation and the leg retained a lot of fluid so it’s always swollen.
My knee had a lot of damage but that is the least of my problems. I been on a wheelchair for 3 years now. They put me in antibiotics for good. I want to walk again but I’m not sure if I have any hope to be able to. If anyone is going to a similar scenario I would love to hear your story and how you are dealing with it.
Hello @pedrin63 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. On top of what was, no doubt, a traumatizing accident I am sorry to hear of the resulting E-coli infection that lead to removing part of your femur and your hip. That must've been very devastating following surgery.
Your goal of walking again is fabulous. Do you feel like you have the right type of care team and/or doctors that you are working with to help you achieve that goal or get you as close to your goal as possible?
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1 ReactionSo sorry you are going through this. I recommend you look up the group Walking without a hip. I also had my hip remove and part of my pelvic bone. I was in a wheelchair for a while but I had a great therapist who worked me hard so I could walk with a walker and a raised shoe. I can also get around short distances with a cane. There are a lot of great testimonials out here on the Mayo Clinic site for walking without a hip so check them out and don’t give up hope.
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