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Advice for hip revision surgery and rehab

Posted by cindyrd68 @cindyrd68, Oct 16, 2022

I will be having the 2 step hip revision surgery next month. When I got the final message through the portal about the procedure it says Removal of hip prosthesis with or without a spacer. What happens if a spacer cannot be placed? I don’t have help at home so I am looking at going to a Rehab for a few weeks. I need to navigate about 12-14 stairs once I am home. What has everyone’s Rehab looked like relative to movement, going upstairs and driving? I drove a week after my first THR. I went upstairs the day I got home too. I know revisions are more difficult but I am very independent and need to remain that way. TIA.

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cindyrd68 | @cindyrd68 | Nov 9, 2022

I will have my hip revision surgery 2 weeks from today. Any advice as to what to expect after surgery? TIA.

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Nov 9, 2022
In reply to @cindyrd68 "I will have my hip revision surgery 2 weeks from today. Any advice as to what..." + (show)
@cindyrd68

I will have my hip revision surgery 2 weeks from today. Any advice as to what to expect after surgery? TIA.

Jump to this post

@cindyrd68 Hi Cindy, what to expect depends on what they are doing - and why.
What is leading to the revision? Infection, failure of the implant, fractured femur?
What are they going to do? Replace the implant, place an antibiotic spacer? Or unknown until the operate?

I walked the day after removal of my faulty implant, on a brand new acetabular cup/liner and new ball. But my cousin had a spacer with antibiotics, and was unable to walk. She got chronic MRSA, so still has a spacer. She can walk on level ground with a walker, but cannot climb stairs.

Do you know what to expect as far as new implant vs spacer?
Sue

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1 reply
cindyrd68 | @cindyrd68 | Nov 9, 2022
In reply to @sueinmn "@cindyrd68 Hi Cindy, what to expect depends on what they are doing - and why. What..." + (show)
@sueinmn

@cindyrd68 Hi Cindy, what to expect depends on what they are doing - and why.
What is leading to the revision? Infection, failure of the implant, fractured femur?
What are they going to do? Replace the implant, place an antibiotic spacer? Or unknown until the operate?

I walked the day after removal of my faulty implant, on a brand new acetabular cup/liner and new ball. But my cousin had a spacer with antibiotics, and was unable to walk. She got chronic MRSA, so still has a spacer. She can walk on level ground with a walker, but cannot climb stairs.

Do you know what to expect as far as new implant vs spacer?
Sue

Jump to this post

It sounds like they are treating it as an infection. I don’t know yet if I will get a spacer. I had a dislocation which led to the final decision. How long has your cousin had the spacer?

REPLY
LA Hipster | @lahipster | Nov 14, 2022

I'm eight months in with a spacer and waiting to see what the next surgery will be during my surgeon visit tomorrow. This is my second revision after finding out an initial infection was never completely eradicated.

I understand all surgeries and patients are different, but I can do little more than transfer myself and use a wheelchair around the house. Unfortunately we have an older house and I need help getting in and out of the bathroom for bathing. Taking more than a dozen or so steps with a walker and stairs are out of the question for me. I have home care 3-4 days a week to help, but we're not covered for that and the expenses mount quickly.

The most debilitating part of having a spacer is the pain. Most of the time I can get into a mostly pain-free, comfortable position but any movement around the joint causes pain. It's better now after 8 months, but the first two months were excruciating at times. Laying on my back is relief, rolling onto my sides is not yet an option. Somewhere along the way I fractured my femur, but that's a whole other story. I've been doing upper body wheelchair exercises, and 'hopping' with my walker daily for as long as I can bear it. The exercises have enabled me to be as mobile and independent as possible.

I may know my next steps tomorrow. My surgeon, with humility, admitted that he has never performed the procedure I require and is looking for a colleague who may be better qualified, either in or out of my network.

My experiences have been that after a hip replacement my recovery has been mostly on track and the pain virtually eliminated. If I'm eligible, this procedure will be my fourth, third on this leg. I'm keeping hope alive. Either way, with or without a hip replacement, will be some kind of resolution to this 'between surgeries' situation I've been in.

In the meantime, I'm living my best life, staying as independent as possible, remaining hopeful that I'm nearing the end of this journey and can get on being a new retiree!

Is anyone here living with a hip removal?

REPLY
1 reply
cindyrd68 | @cindyrd68 | Nov 16, 2022
In reply to @lahipster "I'm eight months in with a spacer and waiting to see what the next surgery will..." + (show)
@lahipster

I'm eight months in with a spacer and waiting to see what the next surgery will be during my surgeon visit tomorrow. This is my second revision after finding out an initial infection was never completely eradicated.

I understand all surgeries and patients are different, but I can do little more than transfer myself and use a wheelchair around the house. Unfortunately we have an older house and I need help getting in and out of the bathroom for bathing. Taking more than a dozen or so steps with a walker and stairs are out of the question for me. I have home care 3-4 days a week to help, but we're not covered for that and the expenses mount quickly.

The most debilitating part of having a spacer is the pain. Most of the time I can get into a mostly pain-free, comfortable position but any movement around the joint causes pain. It's better now after 8 months, but the first two months were excruciating at times. Laying on my back is relief, rolling onto my sides is not yet an option. Somewhere along the way I fractured my femur, but that's a whole other story. I've been doing upper body wheelchair exercises, and 'hopping' with my walker daily for as long as I can bear it. The exercises have enabled me to be as mobile and independent as possible.

I may know my next steps tomorrow. My surgeon, with humility, admitted that he has never performed the procedure I require and is looking for a colleague who may be better qualified, either in or out of my network.

My experiences have been that after a hip replacement my recovery has been mostly on track and the pain virtually eliminated. If I'm eligible, this procedure will be my fourth, third on this leg. I'm keeping hope alive. Either way, with or without a hip replacement, will be some kind of resolution to this 'between surgeries' situation I've been in.

In the meantime, I'm living my best life, staying as independent as possible, remaining hopeful that I'm nearing the end of this journey and can get on being a new retiree!

Is anyone here living with a hip removal?

Jump to this post

Ohhh my goodness…you have been through a lot. I am not close to retirement age so this is the one time I hope that works in my favor. I am tentatively saying I will be back in 4 months to FT work even if my hours decrease some. They may let me do some remotely as well. I can’t be out of work for 8 months. The big day is next Wednesday so I am praying for a good outcome. Good Luck to you!!!!

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