Antibiotic Hip spacers

I have had my articulating cement spacer for 3 months and I am 54 and was working FT before all of this and was somewhat active but the undiagnosed infection gave me a lot of issues for almost 2 years until they finally figured out what was going on. I literally feel your pain but what you do NOT want to do is put a new hip in while they think you could still be infected. I had a hip aspiration yesterday to determine when I can get my hip but I literally haven’t thought through the process of this spacer staying in for more than 4 months. I also have to rely on people (mostly my husband) for errands and grocery shopping. It is my right leg and I have tried to drive but that didn’t go well. I am trying to learn to drive with both feet but my right leg still gets fatigued so I am worried about my response time. It sounds like my surgeon is on board with doing the next surgery but to answer your question…yes sometimes spacers are left in for years for some people. It is truly a pain and my life has come to a screeching halt. Do you have someone to help you with your errands for now? I am fairly independent in doing everything else for myself but anything that involves driving somewhere I still need help. It is so difficult for those of us who were independent before having a prosthetic joint infection. There is a group on Facebook called Totally Hip Support Group. There are several of us that have had this surgery and they may be able to lend you more advice. Best of luck.

Oh thank you so much for your reply
My adult son age 42 lives with me and does all the shopping and errands but he was out of work and was planning on moving to Pitts when this all happened and I needed him so I feel so bad I have disrupted his life
You are so right about your life comes to a stop
I will look into the Facebook thing

@vmwjbc, you may also be interested in this related discussion:
- 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/

I am going on a year with an antibiotic hip spacer. I was told not to put weight on it, so I don't. I had three months of a 24 hour antibiotic infusion pump and so far there has been no indication of infection. I recently had a hip aspiration and blood tests and am waiting to hear back from the surgeon, hopefully with a surgery date. This will be my third hip replacement in my right leg since the first two became infected. The first hip replacement was in place for over 10 years without a problem, so I thought I was out of the woods. The symptoms of the infection and its identification is a whole other story. I recently turned 60 and took an early retirement since work from home was no longer an option in my organization and I'm not fully independent.

From what I've read mainly from this forum is that everyone's mileage may vary with the spacer. I was in abject pain for the first several months, and now it's mainly worn off unless I'm moving around. I can take steps with a walker, but walking and steps are out of the question. My house isn't wheelchair friendly, so my wife helps with most tasks and I have home care to help me take a shower while she's at work. I can take care of my basic needs including getting on and off of the commode and standing briefly while supporting myself with one hand.

I try to look on the bright side and just be grateful for my wife, my health care coverage, being able to take an earlier than scheduled retirement and having the means to pay for home care...for now. As a hands-on, handyman type of person in my free time, you can imagine this has been frustrating, but I do what I can and look forward to getting back into my garage soon.

Whatever I do to keep myself busy, I do. Learning languages online, reading, music - anything helps pass the time. I'm still 'on hold' for surgery, and since I fractured my femur somehow along the way it's more complicated. I've seen a surgeon specializing in bone reconstruction, so my hopes are up. Hope yours are too.

Hi LA Hipster,
Thank you for sharing your experience. I had a loose hip replacement removed along with debridement for MSSA staph almost 2 weeks ago. I’m at a rehab & nursing home facility and am having trouble receiving pain medication (this place is NOT prepared for a patient like me.). I’ve had a lot of orthopedic surgeries in my life, but the debridement has made this unbearable without adequate pain meds. How painful was this experience for you? Were healthcare providers understanding and empathetic? I’ve been treated like someone who just wants more pain meds. All I want is to have my life back.

So sorry to hear you are going through this. I almost had to go to Rehab as well but thankfully doing well at home 3 months after my first surgery. I know it is hard but you need to move as much as possible and allowed by therapy. I think that is why after 3 months (still with an articulating) spacer) I am independent in all of my ADL’s except tying my right shoe. My Doc and Therapist have been amazed at my independence. Although I was fiercely independent before this and I hate asking for help. I walk (even if it is just around my house) at least every hour and now am able to get out and about but do need help with transportation for now. The first two weeks after surgery are grueling in terms of pain. Ice packs and hot showers were my saving grace. Gabapentin and muscle relaxers have also helped so see if your Doc will call those in as well. Most other pain meds were too constipating for me so unless I was in excruciating pain I avoided them. Good Luck.

I’m glad you’re doing so well, Cindy. I’m walking around my room using my walker really well, but I’m trying to find home healthcare so I can leave this nursing home. The only concern is finding help for this PICC line. The atmosphere here is chaotic and the place understaffed. A lady down my hallway screams, cries, and cusses at workers constantly so it’s difficult to sleep. Not getting adequate pain killers is making it impossible to get enough sleep. Hopefully my insurance case worker will help me get care at home asap.

Thank God I had help at home with my PICC line and IV antibiotics. It was the one thing I did need help with at home. Ask them for an extender kit and to teach you how to give yourself the IV antibiotics. They made my original lines too short for me to clamp and unclamp my lines otherwise I was ready to do my own IV antibiotics. Did I mention I hate to ask for help?? You are most likely not getting good rest so your body is not healing like it should hence the issues with uncontrolled pain. Although I will say the first six weeks are the hardest. Do you have anyone who can help you at home a few times a day just until you finish the IV antibiotics??

Thank you for sharing with me. I found out a bit ago that I have to stay at the nursing home for 3 more weeks because there are no home healthcare workers in the area who know how to run a PICC line. Not having any pain meds for 12 hours has work me down. Have to run…PT is here.

Hello...I am one year post op for hip infection and was on IV antibiotic through PICC line for 8 weeks. My husband changed my IV bag daily as it was a 24 hour continuous IV. IF you have a relative, friend or neighbor who is willing to commit to coming to your home and doing this daily for you, you can go home with a Home Care Agency coming in for Physical Therapy, Aides to help with bathing, etc. I know this because I too was in a Nursing Home that was not appropriate by any means and my surgeon's office worked with me to get the Home Care, IV Agency to supply the meds and equipment needed for my PICC line. I was out of that Nursing home within 72 hours! I'm a retired nurse, so I knew this could be done at home if you had the proper help. Good luck with your healing process.....Cindy