Living without a hip

My mother has been living this nihgtmare for 6 months already. She went in for a hio replacement and everything went wrong. Had so many infections. Connected to two wound vacs. Currently doesnt have a hip bc of it becoming infected. Been home for almost 4 months still is not ambulatory, difficulty standing for longer than a minute. Working on transfers but difficult. She is in a very low place bc she feels ike her independence was taken away and will never be the same. She would love to speak to others in this position.
Please reach out

Mary please reach out to me about my mother

Hi Mary, please reach out to me regarding my mother

Hello @lisalisa11, Welcome to Connect. I know it has to be difficult for you as well as your mother dealing with the hip replacement and subsequent infections for 6 months. I don't think @mary121658 is following Connect since her last post was in 2020.

@darlas1967, @terrirussell, @vmwjbc, @jholland and others may have some suggestions or thoughts they can share with you.

I am 70 years old and lost my left hip joint in Feb 2022 due to osteomyelitis. Surgeons also had to remove my Vastus Lateralis Muscle (Part of Quadricep) and my Illiotibial Band due to the infection. I use a walker and sometimes crutches for mobility and hoping to walk with 1 cane someday or nothing at all. I realize I am just 1 year post op, but very interested in how others are doing with a similar situation. I am on life long antibiotics for infection and advised never to try for another implant. Risk is too great as they almost had to amputate my leg last year. I live in Michigan....Cindy

I had a MoM recall that is destroyed my hip socket.
They removed the hardware which has left me unable to walk or work. I am 71 years old.
I’m due for another surgery to install hardware and rebuild my hip socket. I am terrified.

Hello....I had a Metal on Metal Birmingham Hip that had to be removed due to severe infection I didn't know I had until 4 days prior. We were in Florida at the time and I was sent to University of Florida Shands Hospital. My surgeon removed as much infection as he could along with bone and muscles. He said it would be too risky for another infection if I were to have another hip implant. How many years has it been for you without a hip? Are you still on antibiotics? Or free of infection? I wish you all the best and would love to hear how things turn out for you. I live in Michigan. What state are you in?.......Cindy

Hi Cindy. I’ve never posted on here, but today I found out my left hip has an staph infection in the replacement that was done 12 years ago. I’m now scheduled for part one of a two stage revision this Wednesday. Because my right hip has the same symptoms, the surgeon will be doing a hip aspiration on it, too. I’m wondering if anyone has had both hips infected at the same time. Could I end up with antibiotic spacers in both sockets until the infection is under control? I’m supposed to have an antibiotic IV 24/7 for several weeks. How could I get a staph infection so many years after having surgery?
Catherine

Hi Catherine @babypanda, Welcome to Connect. I see that you've already connected with @cmarsh. I thought I would add a pointer to another discussion where members have shared experiences with antibiotic spacers.

-- What kind of mobility can I expect with an antibiotic spacer in my hip:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/what-kind-of-mobility-can-i-expect-with-an-antibiotic-spacer-in-my-hip/
Here's an article that may provide answers to your question on how a staph infection could occur so many years after your surgery.
"A total joint may become infected during the time of surgery, or anywhere from weeks to years after the surgery.
The most common ways bacteria enter the body include:
- Through breaks or cuts in the skin
- During major dental procedures (such as a tooth extraction or root canal)
- Through wounds from other surgical procedures..."
-- Joint Replacement Infection: https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/joint-replacement-infection.

Did your doctor or surgeon have any thoughts on how the infection may have occurred?

Hi John,
Thank you for your helpful reply. I feel very alone and afraid right now and am so grateful to have a place to ask questions. I have not talked to my surgeon about the origin of this infection, but I am starting to think it may be dental in origin. Since I’ve had a feeling I’d need a revision I went to my dentist two weeks ago. She found that a large filling had fallen out, but it had not progressed to needing a root canal. I admit I was overdue for a dental visit (it had been one year), but I had an ACDF neck fusion in the summer that came as as a complete shock to me. Whole different topic, but two discs had calcified and almost vanished. I’m going to get dental insurance so I can get my teeth cleaned 3 or 4 times a year after all of this. That actually raises a whole different question…how many times a year should I go to the dentist and get cleanings with hip implants? During the pandemic with no visits I developed an infection and had a root canal as soon as my dentist could see me.
Thanks!!!! Catherine