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.
New to Connect, and I don't know if I'm asking in the right place or not, but I have had THR in both hips, and now (4 years later) I'm having problems in my left one; pain, and I've been running a low grade fever for 4 months. They took x-rays, nothing showed, they're talking about doing a CAT scan next, but no one seems to have any sense of urgency about this.
I live alone, and I have a 45 minute commute to work.
If I end up having to have an antibiotic spacer implanted, how am I going to get around? Can I even walk? Can I drive? Will I be able to work? I sit at a desk, I'm not loading trucks or anything like that.
Anyways, I'm scared to death that I'm going to be crippled/immobile.
Any information anyone can give me would be greatly appreciated.
If I posted this in the wrong place, I'm really sorry, direct me where I should have gone.
New to Connect, and I don't know if I'm asking in the right place or not, but I have had THR in both hips, and now (4 years later) I'm having problems in my left one; pain, and I've been running a low grade fever for 4 months. They took x-rays, nothing showed, they're talking about doing a CAT scan next, but no one seems to have any sense of urgency about this.
I live alone, and I have a 45 minute commute to work.
If I end up having to have an antibiotic spacer implanted, how am I going to get around? Can I even walk? Can I drive? Will I be able to work? I sit at a desk, I'm not loading trucks or anything like that.
Anyways, I'm scared to death that I'm going to be crippled/immobile.
Any information anyone can give me would be greatly appreciated.
If I posted this in the wrong place, I'm really sorry, direct me where I should have gone.
Hello, and welcome to Mayo Connect. I too have had both hips replaced, and am always concerned about any new pain. I assume the x-rays confirmed the hip is intact, but was any bloodwork done to identify whether you have an infection?
Sue
Hello, and welcome to Mayo Connect. I too have had both hips replaced, and am always concerned about any new pain. I assume the x-rays confirmed the hip is intact, but was any bloodwork done to identify whether you have an infection?
Sue
omg they've taken ALL my blood...
So the symptoms have been low-grade fever for 4+ months now (1.5 to 2 degrees higher than my normal), & feeling exhausted; they've done bloodwork to test for an infection, it came back negative. That was about 4 weeks ago.
They've done a whole bunch of tests, and a torso to partial skull CT scan. They found a long term sinusitis condition/blocked sinus cavity (apparently it's been there for long enough to have created changes to the bone). They currently have me on antibiotics, and prednisone, for a little over a week now. If that doesn't clear up the infection/blockage, I have to have surgery to fix it.
The pain in my hip is new, that showed up 2-3 weeks ago. Tonight it was a little worse (hence my joining here).
I'm still running a fever (tonight it was actually a little higher than usual, about 100.2).
I was walking around in the kitchen earlier, trying to do some meal prep, and the pain became sort of sharp and stabby for a few steps.
Since I got my 2nd THR on the right hip 2-1/2 years ago, I've been doing great (until 4 mos ago)... no more cane, walk everywhere I want, traveling back and forth to NYC... when I'm in Brooklyn, I walk everywhere, grocery shopping, carrying bags of groceries back, no problems, no pain... my last trip in June, the usual walk to the grocery store whipped my butt... I had to lay down and take a nap and rest for an hour or so.
I'm scared to death that they're going to have to remove the prosthesis, and what happens then? I mean, does your leg just flop around? Are you dragging it behind you? How is it attached to your body? Can you walk? Can you move it?
Trying really hard not to work myself up into a swivet, but I'm scared. 🙁
If you can afford it or if your insurance company will pay for a rollator walker you may want to consider one. This will help keep some of the pressure off the hips. Also since you walk so much, the rollator allows you to get around more quickly and with a basket you can have somewhere for the groceries. Just a thought. Don’t be afraid, I don’t have a right hip and I get around pretty good with my rollator and cane. If you want to talk to me, just let me know and I will be glad to call you
If you can afford it or if your insurance company will pay for a rollator walker you may want to consider one. This will help keep some of the pressure off the hips. Also since you walk so much, the rollator allows you to get around more quickly and with a basket you can have somewhere for the groceries. Just a thought. Don’t be afraid, I don’t have a right hip and I get around pretty good with my rollator and cane. If you want to talk to me, just let me know and I will be glad to call you
Yes I can drive. The main thing is doing the exercises you will need to do to strengthen muscles. Don’t get discouraged because it will take you some time but you will get there…and don’t let friends and family try to do everything for you….my husband was so afraid that I outdone fall or hurt myself I had to make him mad to let him know I wanted to try. I had a great therapist that knew my goal was to be able to walk and be independent and she worked me hard….but it was worth it….so keep a positive outlook and don’t let anyone discourage you.
I have not had my hip remived as if yet but it is a definite loss I lit in the near future. I had my hip replaced in 2019, severe infection 2 months later. Had surgery to clean it out. Two years later anither massive infection that couldn't be controlled resulted another complete replacement with extended length of the stem. The process pretty much shattered my femur getting the old device out. Its been one year and another infection is beginning. If it can't be controlled the removal of my hip is the only option. I am very curious on how a Larson functions without a hip joint
I have no left hip due to bacteria infection
I hop on my rt leg while holding up my useless left
Will I ever be able to walk again?
They say I have to go to a rehab facility first
Will I end up in a wheelchair the rest of my life ???
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Hi, @pedrin63. As per @cheryl99's recommendation, I moved your message to this existing discussion.
- Walking without a hip joint: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/walking-without-a-hip-joint/
I did this so you can connect easily with others like Cheryl as well as @dzoneill @koala78 @kjz @trinab47 @pdtsomerset and many others.
You may also be interested in these related discussions:
- Living without a hip: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/living-without-a-hip/
- If you're living without a hip like me, please reach out to me https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/if-youre-living-without-a-hip-like-me-please-reach-out-to-me/
How are you doing today?
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3 ReactionsI wish you all the best 👍
New to Connect, and I don't know if I'm asking in the right place or not, but I have had THR in both hips, and now (4 years later) I'm having problems in my left one; pain, and I've been running a low grade fever for 4 months. They took x-rays, nothing showed, they're talking about doing a CAT scan next, but no one seems to have any sense of urgency about this.
I live alone, and I have a 45 minute commute to work.
If I end up having to have an antibiotic spacer implanted, how am I going to get around? Can I even walk? Can I drive? Will I be able to work? I sit at a desk, I'm not loading trucks or anything like that.
Anyways, I'm scared to death that I'm going to be crippled/immobile.
Any information anyone can give me would be greatly appreciated.
If I posted this in the wrong place, I'm really sorry, direct me where I should have gone.
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Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionHello, and welcome to Mayo Connect. I too have had both hips replaced, and am always concerned about any new pain. I assume the x-rays confirmed the hip is intact, but was any bloodwork done to identify whether you have an infection?
Sue
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2 Reactionsomg they've taken ALL my blood...
So the symptoms have been low-grade fever for 4+ months now (1.5 to 2 degrees higher than my normal), & feeling exhausted; they've done bloodwork to test for an infection, it came back negative. That was about 4 weeks ago.
They've done a whole bunch of tests, and a torso to partial skull CT scan. They found a long term sinusitis condition/blocked sinus cavity (apparently it's been there for long enough to have created changes to the bone). They currently have me on antibiotics, and prednisone, for a little over a week now. If that doesn't clear up the infection/blockage, I have to have surgery to fix it.
The pain in my hip is new, that showed up 2-3 weeks ago. Tonight it was a little worse (hence my joining here).
I'm still running a fever (tonight it was actually a little higher than usual, about 100.2).
I was walking around in the kitchen earlier, trying to do some meal prep, and the pain became sort of sharp and stabby for a few steps.
Since I got my 2nd THR on the right hip 2-1/2 years ago, I've been doing great (until 4 mos ago)... no more cane, walk everywhere I want, traveling back and forth to NYC... when I'm in Brooklyn, I walk everywhere, grocery shopping, carrying bags of groceries back, no problems, no pain... my last trip in June, the usual walk to the grocery store whipped my butt... I had to lay down and take a nap and rest for an hour or so.
I'm scared to death that they're going to have to remove the prosthesis, and what happens then? I mean, does your leg just flop around? Are you dragging it behind you? How is it attached to your body? Can you walk? Can you move it?
Trying really hard not to work myself up into a swivet, but I'm scared. 🙁
And than you so much for replying!
If you can afford it or if your insurance company will pay for a rollator walker you may want to consider one. This will help keep some of the pressure off the hips. Also since you walk so much, the rollator allows you to get around more quickly and with a basket you can have somewhere for the groceries. Just a thought. Don’t be afraid, I don’t have a right hip and I get around pretty good with my rollator and cane. If you want to talk to me, just let me know and I will be glad to call you
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1 ReactionThank you Cheryl99...
If you don't have a hip, are you able to do things like drive a car, that sort of thing?
Yes I can drive. The main thing is doing the exercises you will need to do to strengthen muscles. Don’t get discouraged because it will take you some time but you will get there…and don’t let friends and family try to do everything for you….my husband was so afraid that I outdone fall or hurt myself I had to make him mad to let him know I wanted to try. I had a great therapist that knew my goal was to be able to walk and be independent and she worked me hard….but it was worth it….so keep a positive outlook and don’t let anyone discourage you.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
5 ReactionsI have not had my hip remived as if yet but it is a definite loss I lit in the near future. I had my hip replaced in 2019, severe infection 2 months later. Had surgery to clean it out. Two years later anither massive infection that couldn't be controlled resulted another complete replacement with extended length of the stem. The process pretty much shattered my femur getting the old device out. Its been one year and another infection is beginning. If it can't be controlled the removal of my hip is the only option. I am very curious on how a Larson functions without a hip joint
I have no left hip due to bacteria infection
I hop on my rt leg while holding up my useless left
Will I ever be able to walk again?
They say I have to go to a rehab facility first
Will I end up in a wheelchair the rest of my life ???