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

I'm sorry your hip replacement took such an unwelcome turn. How long has it been since surgery, and have you begun therapy?
I ask because when my cousin was given a spacer, she was not offered PT and her caregiver/spouse did not pursue it - by the time her kids stepped in, she had lost too much muscle mass, and is limited to "getting around" in the house without her wheelchair in spite of trying really hard to get moving.
There are therapists in many areas who specialize in post-surgical PT for difficult situations - can your surgeon refer you to one of them? They are most often found connected to a rehab center or hospital, and take a different approach to therapy than standard post hip replacement exercise.
Did your surgeon explain why the recommendation changed? Are you receiving other antibiotic therapy for the infection?
Sorry for so many questions, but it is easier for others to replay to you with suggestions if we have more information.
Sue

My surgery was September, so I’ve had my spacers fo 7, going on 8 months. I did start PT last week,so I have some things to work on. I feel very discouraged finding out the horrible outcomes some people have. I don’t know if I should live with the spacers, or do another hip. I will add I went through the pic line antibiotics and oral antibiotics. And several hip aspirations, always fun. I appreciate your concern, and reach out to me. I really need to work on improving my attitude, I know this is very important. I guess I wish I knew how I got this infection.
You take care, and thanks again for reaching out. My name is Cathy😃

Cathy, Your "attitude" is a natural reaction to the bad situation you are in. It's very hard to keep reading and hearing horror stories and still stay positive and strong. I encourage you to remember that people love to talk about extreme cases, not about the many people who live with challenges and just keep on going.

The people on Connect are all here to share our experiences and suggestions for dealing with what we face.

Let me start with "...how I got this infection..." I am assuming you were the unlucky recipient of MRSA, and you probably never will know the source. I live in a small, mobile community (RV Park in South Texas) and each of my friends here has at least as many health challenges as mine. In particular, I have a chronic lung infection called MAC and an underlying condition called Bronchiectasis. I never heard of either until my diagnosis 4 years ago, and was stuck for a long time on how & why. One of my friends always says "it doesn't matter how you got something, just how you handle it." That was what I needed to jump the last hurdle, and concentrate on how to best live with my challenges. In 2020, that led me to get into a pain management program, get busy exercising to keep my lungs clear, accept my limits and then do everything I can on any given day.

In my first post I mentioned my cousin. She has lived without a hip for nearly 20 years now, and is not a candidate for a new hip because of other health issues. She is also profoundly hard of hearing, and nearly blind. But...she got out of an abusive marriage and lives with her daughter's family, is exploring a cochlear implant, having cataract surgery, losing weight to improve her diabetes, cooking and baking with her granddaughter, and is looking forward to the reopening of the local senior center. She visits with extended family via FB and in person. She wishes she never got MRSA, but has mostly stayed positive even through the isolation of Covid. She is one of my inspirations.

So, now that you are starting PT, maybe your best option is to get as strong and mobile as you can, just in case you might not get a new hip. Figure out what you can do, and what you need to find help to accomplish.

What is the one thing you most want to be able to do?
Sue

I wish I could walk, even with a cane. I know I have a way to go, so I’ve got to work on my attitude, as well my physical strength. Thanks Sue for your kind, encouraging words. You take good care, and I’ll try to do the same!
Cathy😊

Cathy - that's a great goal to reach for. If you share it with your PT, as well as your willingness to work hard to get there, I bet you can reach it!
Sue

Thank you @johnbishop! 😃

Hi
6 years ago I had a revision of my hip in which I had damaged after a fall . It took 2 years to finally know why I was in so much pain …I had a infection and had formed into 2 large mass type cysts .
So I had a two phase hip operation to deal with , the surgeon said after clearing the infection and replacing with a temporary hip ( which was actually a proper implant ) and have a pik line administered via upper arm for 6 weeks , with a daily change over .
Once infection cleared I was to get a custom built cage for me and another implant put in approximately 3 months later .
I walked pretty good with the temp one was like a new one and seemed to recover and move well , but unfortunately I dislocated twice between operations. Then had custom one done and looked to be going well then boom dislocated 2 more times .
He then tried to change angle and that went well for 9 months but again 3 more dislocations.
I now have a capsulated cup to stop it coming out so far I’m 14 months without dislocating yay
What a bloody journey
I’m not sure what a spacer is or what it does but does not sound a very good option , I was told if my infection comes back I’d have no hip till infection is gone ! I couldn’t even imagine what that would be like , horrible I bet . I am able to move pretty good now but still have issues with pain and strength and am very weak in the thigh as my muscles were ravaged by the 2 year infection .
I feel for you all and I hope you manage in your way .
My advice would be never be gas lighted by doctors and surgeons and always say what it is you actually feel as you know best . Push for scans etc even if they say no , and always research things and do what you’ve done on here as talking about your journey is good and every little tid bit can help by listening to others eg like how to sleep correctly, exercise to your ability , never overdo things and believe you can push through . Best of luck

My gf has same issue! She has a spacer full of antibiotics, in her femur. She broke her hip/femur and after operation she got the MAC infection. She been trying to kill infection for 2 years now. With picc line every 12 hours. God bless keep fighting , May the universe be good to you💖

Hi Art!
Do you have the MAC infection?

I had 4 hip replacement surgeries and had 3 infections. In the last surgery they put in a hip spacer with anti-infection stuff added to the cement. I still need a cane or two or a walker to get around. The hip seems to give when I walk. The dr. says I should leave it in indefinitely but I want to walk like a normal person again without mobility aids. Has anyone been able to walk normally with a hip spacer?