My husband had 6 surgeries last year on his right hip for infection. The last one to remove all artificial parts (Girdlestone procedure). He is now 10 months post-Girdlestone. He uses crutches or walker to get around. He just finished 2 months of aqua-therapy (3 times a week for one hour) It was very helpful. It is still painful and he cannot bear his full weight on that leg. He could not say enough good things about the pool/aqua therapy.
I hope your husband keeps up with the water exercise. It can be helpful longterm to do exercises on his own in the water or to swim. I started swimming 43 years ago to help me recover from over 3 years of disabling back pain. I'm still at it five times a week ever since and it has been a huge help for both my physical and mental health.
My husband had 6 surgeries last year on his right hip for infection. The last one to remove all artificial parts (Girdlestone procedure). He is now 10 months post-Girdlestone. He uses crutches or walker to get around. He just finished 2 months of aqua-therapy (3 times a week for one hour) It was very helpful. It is still painful and he cannot bear his full weight on that leg. He could not say enough good things about the pool/aqua therapy.
Hi Lori, I am about 5 days post girdlestone surgery (still in hospital). I'm so encouraged to hear that your husband is having such a great experience with aqua therapy. When he swims, can he be independent ? Or does he have to have a therapist with him? Does he swim laps? I'm and avoid swimmer and I'm learning to get back into the pool. Also, I was curious if there was an explanation your husband has been given for his continuing pain. Thanks from one of the newest members of the club..
Hi Lori, I am about 5 days post girdlestone surgery (still in hospital). I'm so encouraged to hear that your husband is having such a great experience with aqua therapy. When he swims, can he be independent ? Or does he have to have a therapist with him? Does he swim laps? I'm and avoid swimmer and I'm learning to get back into the pool. Also, I was curious if there was an explanation your husband has been given for his continuing pain. Thanks from one of the newest members of the club..
The pain is coming from the femur and pelvic bone rubbing on each other as they have not built up enough scar tissue to cushion the impact. He likes aqua therapy since he can walk, do stretches, etc. without the pain that comes with weight-bearing. There was a therapist overseeing. He could not begin pool therapy until his incision was completely healed.
My husband had 6 surgeries last year on his right hip for infection. The last one to remove all artificial parts (Girdlestone procedure). He is now 10 months post-Girdlestone. He uses crutches or walker to get around. He just finished 2 months of aqua-therapy (3 times a week for one hour) It was very helpful. It is still painful and he cannot bear his full weight on that leg. He could not say enough good things about the pool/aqua therapy.
Hi Lori...that is wonderful news on your husband. We chatted several months ago and I've thought of him from time to time and wondered how he was doing. Tell him to keep up the good work. We just got back from our second camping trip so far this summer and tell him I was able to get into our bass fishing boat with crutches! Where there's a will, there's a way! ........Cindy
In 1985 I became a world case study by Jeffrey W. Mast. He flew in from Bern, Switzerland to Tampa, when the ER attending, Brett Bolhofner, orthopedic specialist training under Dr. Mast called him. Dr. Mast only took on catastrophic failed cases.
Over the next couple of years, I went thru 17 reconstructions, with 21 surgical entries. I had so many fractures, my body stole calcium from my shattered left hip, ultimately causing every attempt to fail, including a Girdle-Stone. My body during this time was also rejecting hardware elsewhere. I was pretty much crushed from my feet to my eyebrow ridge. During the first few years I had approximately 50 reconstruction surgeries total, including facial reconstruction to the right side of my face, involving both jaws.
Dr. Mast was in Bern on a fellowship developing the POA, which my hip was a conclusive part of. He had two titles he gave me. The first was MY HUMPTY DUMPTY, THE ONE & ONLY I COULDN’T PUT BACK TOGETHER AGAIN. However, it shortened the process, as my reconstructions shortened the path to what did ultimately work. So many experimental devices were tried, like the EBI, PCA’S, along with many more I don’t recall the names of. The second name he endowed me with was A FORCE OF ONE. He told me, after repeatedly flooring students, that if anyone could pull off walking with their femur balanced on a ledge it would be me. Thirty-eight+ years past our initial conversation, I have now walked off over 11” of femoral head & femur.
The date of the accident, Feb 17, I check every year to see if Jeffrey W. Mast’s medical definition for me has become a term. False Girdle-Stone is still not a medical term.
Dr. Mast said when I walked, that I was the only human in over 220,000 years that walked bone on muscle! AmI still the only human to achieve this feat?
It should be noted that I am fully aware of the difference between revision surgery and the Girdlestone procedure. I am interested in knowing more about recovery from the Girdlestone procedure, and it’s effectiveness in eradicating infection, in the event revision surgery is not successful.
I am and was told I would never be able to get one again. It was suppose to be a left hip replacement and went bad. They did a revision but I had a lot of infection and had to be taken out. I also had a drop foot on my left leg and dealing with that as well. I go to therapy 3x a week. I just got a brace and a lift for my shoe and will try it soon since I need adjustments on it. It’s very hard when I was active before this and now I can’t believe it. I was told by my surgeon that it could take up to a year with the drop foot and the leg as well. You just have to have patience and do the best that you can. I just got home 4 months ago after spending 5 months in rehabs. Physical therapists say I’m doing well considering. I do walk but like a turtle but I try. The main thing is exercising and that will help in time. Hang in there🙏
Hello...I had girdlestone resection about 18 months ago and still walking with a walker and crutches for short distances. Can I ask how long before you walked unassisted? I would so love to get to that point. I can take maybe 5-10 steps unassisted, but it's pretty wobbly and I don't feel stable. I would love to talk more with you privately if you don't mind. I'm 70 and live in Michigan.......Cindy
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Water exercise is a godsend to anyone with mobility issues or pain. Here's a good article about the benefits: https://www.paintreatmentdirectory.com/posts/swimming-and-aqua-therapy-for-back-pain-benefits-and-best-practices
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2 ReactionsMy husband had 6 surgeries last year on his right hip for infection. The last one to remove all artificial parts (Girdlestone procedure). He is now 10 months post-Girdlestone. He uses crutches or walker to get around. He just finished 2 months of aqua-therapy (3 times a week for one hour) It was very helpful. It is still painful and he cannot bear his full weight on that leg. He could not say enough good things about the pool/aqua therapy.
Lori from Michigan
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1 ReactionI hope your husband keeps up with the water exercise. It can be helpful longterm to do exercises on his own in the water or to swim. I started swimming 43 years ago to help me recover from over 3 years of disabling back pain. I'm still at it five times a week ever since and it has been a huge help for both my physical and mental health.
Hi Lori, I am about 5 days post girdlestone surgery (still in hospital). I'm so encouraged to hear that your husband is having such a great experience with aqua therapy. When he swims, can he be independent ? Or does he have to have a therapist with him? Does he swim laps? I'm and avoid swimmer and I'm learning to get back into the pool. Also, I was curious if there was an explanation your husband has been given for his continuing pain. Thanks from one of the newest members of the club..
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Helpful -
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1 ReactionThe pain is coming from the femur and pelvic bone rubbing on each other as they have not built up enough scar tissue to cushion the impact. He likes aqua therapy since he can walk, do stretches, etc. without the pain that comes with weight-bearing. There was a therapist overseeing. He could not begin pool therapy until his incision was completely healed.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionHi Lori...that is wonderful news on your husband. We chatted several months ago and I've thought of him from time to time and wondered how he was doing. Tell him to keep up the good work. We just got back from our second camping trip so far this summer and tell him I was able to get into our bass fishing boat with crutches! Where there's a will, there's a way! ........Cindy
In 1985 I became a world case study by Jeffrey W. Mast. He flew in from Bern, Switzerland to Tampa, when the ER attending, Brett Bolhofner, orthopedic specialist training under Dr. Mast called him. Dr. Mast only took on catastrophic failed cases.
Over the next couple of years, I went thru 17 reconstructions, with 21 surgical entries. I had so many fractures, my body stole calcium from my shattered left hip, ultimately causing every attempt to fail, including a Girdle-Stone. My body during this time was also rejecting hardware elsewhere. I was pretty much crushed from my feet to my eyebrow ridge. During the first few years I had approximately 50 reconstruction surgeries total, including facial reconstruction to the right side of my face, involving both jaws.
Dr. Mast was in Bern on a fellowship developing the POA, which my hip was a conclusive part of. He had two titles he gave me. The first was MY HUMPTY DUMPTY, THE ONE & ONLY I COULDN’T PUT BACK TOGETHER AGAIN. However, it shortened the process, as my reconstructions shortened the path to what did ultimately work. So many experimental devices were tried, like the EBI, PCA’S, along with many more I don’t recall the names of. The second name he endowed me with was A FORCE OF ONE. He told me, after repeatedly flooring students, that if anyone could pull off walking with their femur balanced on a ledge it would be me. Thirty-eight+ years past our initial conversation, I have now walked off over 11” of femoral head & femur.
The date of the accident, Feb 17, I check every year to see if Jeffrey W. Mast’s medical definition for me has become a term. False Girdle-Stone is still not a medical term.
Dr. Mast said when I walked, that I was the only human in over 220,000 years that walked bone on muscle! AmI still the only human to achieve this feat?
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Hug
1 ReactionI am able to walk unassisted after a girldestone excision arthoplasty in 2016
I am and was told I would never be able to get one again. It was suppose to be a left hip replacement and went bad. They did a revision but I had a lot of infection and had to be taken out. I also had a drop foot on my left leg and dealing with that as well. I go to therapy 3x a week. I just got a brace and a lift for my shoe and will try it soon since I need adjustments on it. It’s very hard when I was active before this and now I can’t believe it. I was told by my surgeon that it could take up to a year with the drop foot and the leg as well. You just have to have patience and do the best that you can. I just got home 4 months ago after spending 5 months in rehabs. Physical therapists say I’m doing well considering. I do walk but like a turtle but I try. The main thing is exercising and that will help in time. Hang in there🙏
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsHello...I had girdlestone resection about 18 months ago and still walking with a walker and crutches for short distances. Can I ask how long before you walked unassisted? I would so love to get to that point. I can take maybe 5-10 steps unassisted, but it's pretty wobbly and I don't feel stable. I would love to talk more with you privately if you don't mind. I'm 70 and live in Michigan.......Cindy