Hmm, I never really thought about this much, but there is an interesting (if old) precedent. Back in the 1950's my brother had a condition called Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, which is a temporary necrosis of the femoral head. A brace was used to keep weight off the joint, the pelvis rested on a frame or the abdomen was wrapped in one, and the brace, with a shoe attached extended below the foot. Needless to say, it was a clumsy device, but the only other treatment at the time was a-frame casting for up to 2 years.
Recently, my friend was fitted with a similar device for 6 months after hip replacement because she had traumatic tears in her muscles and a damaged tendon, which mad her hip extremely unstable. With the brace she was able to stand and walk for short distances, safely & without pain.
If I was looking for information, I would start with a teaching hospital specializing in orthopedics...
Sue
I was born with a congenital hip dislocation and had 3 surgeries between the ages of 2 and 15. At the age of 26 (1985) I had a THR. There were 3 revisions, the last in 2006 at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. In 2013 I was admitted with sepsis, a massive mrsa infection which later mutated into visa. March 2014 the prosthesis was removed and I spent 2 1/2 years in a wheelchair and on IV antibiotics most of that time. Last summer my case was taken over by another surgeon who deemed it unwise to try another revision and we agreed. A new infectious disease doctor changed antibiotis and I am now mrsa/visa free. I have no hip and no spacers, the femur is significantly shorter, leg length difference is 3 1/2 inches. The new surgeon has me walking with walker and crutches and a 3 inch lift on my shoe. 3 months physical therapy to strengthen muscles atrophied from so much time in the wheelchair. I am about to move to one crutch, and the goal is a cane. Xrays show excellent build up of scar tissue supporting the leg. My original question was wondering if there are others having the same experience.
My mother had both of her hips disintegrate and they do not know what tissue she is walking on. I wanted to know how you are doing? Can you walk on your scar tissue? She is supposed to get a major reconstructive hip surgery and was wondering if there is a possibility to walk without going through major surgery? Thank you so much! Hope you are better.
I am 76 and have congenital, bilateral hip dysplasia. I have no hip joint. The acetabulum is shallow and the head of the femurs are embedded in the hip muscles. But, I am doing great! I have never had surgery. I participate in aqua aerobics 4 times a week for an hour at a time. Thank you, Lord.
Well this is very interesting, considering I have been a member of this forum for at least 5 months and have been looking for someone, like me who is living without a hip joint. I have found no one until just now. Everyone else is living with a spacer and awaiting a 2 stage or living without a hip until their staph infection is gone. February will be the one year mark of having no hip joint. My whole saga should be on this site somewhere. Maybe you could try to find it and contact me and then we can share some advice on how we're both getting around. That would be great. It's been a long day of pain and I can't sit in this chair anymore but please, do get back to me. I'm actually very excited to find someone without a hip like me. Robin
@dzoneill, thank you for telling us more about your hip issue. You have overcome so much already and I have no doubt your perseverance will be empowering to some of our other members.
While my initial search has not found anyone who has experienced something exactly as you, but I will keep looking. I would like to invite some members who have had hip replacements and hip issues who will have some shared experiences with you in the meantime. @amber67, @beatricefay, @mnpat@grandmacheryl@popolopo@bobg10, @tallteri, and @sma1952 have all discussed hip replacements
I am also without a hip joint. Had revision like 2 times and the Dr doesn't want to do the surgery because I had mesa and staff infection. I have a 2 inch lift on my shoe I have to use a walker to get around. Its very difficult for me to do steps of any kind. I had to retire from my job which I was in my 26fh year had 4 years to go for full retirement.
A warm welcome to @reneesa128 and @chellez2222 for joining Mayo Clinic Connect. I wanted to introduce the two of you to each other since you are both new and inquiring about the same situation. Renee for herself and Chelle for her mother.
Can you both tell us a little more about your/your mother's mobility with no hip joint?
A warm welcome to @reneesa128 and @chellez2222 for joining Mayo Clinic Connect. I wanted to introduce the two of you to each other since you are both new and inquiring about the same situation. Renee for herself and Chelle for her mother.
Can you both tell us a little more about your/your mother's mobility with no hip joint?
Thank you for the warm welcome. Very happy to be part of the community.
My mother had liver failure which caused avn in both of her hips. They are completely gone and they cannot see any bone on the xray. She was in a lot of pain until her liver transplant and could only walk a few steps with a walker.
Since the transplant she does not have pain (the new liver helped rebuild strength), walks 90 steps a day with walker and can free-stand for 15 seconds at a time without buckling.
She wants to walk again and has a dr willing to do reconstructive surgery, however i am worried about doing it due to infection after surgery. It would be hard to clear because she is on immunosuppressant due to the transplant.
Lastly, The bone is in soft tissue of some kind, dr’s have no idea what, and have no idea how she is walking.
My questions is, could it be possible to walk and put all her body weight on a leg without a hip?
As she doesn't have pain now, could it be a question of strengthening the leg muscles and she could walk (with cain/do stairs) or would walking without hip joints make her very unstable and be dangerous?
If anyone has any idea who could answer this, please send me the reference. Thank you!!!
Thank you for the warm welcome. Very happy to be part of the community.
My mother had liver failure which caused avn in both of her hips. They are completely gone and they cannot see any bone on the xray. She was in a lot of pain until her liver transplant and could only walk a few steps with a walker.
Since the transplant she does not have pain (the new liver helped rebuild strength), walks 90 steps a day with walker and can free-stand for 15 seconds at a time without buckling.
She wants to walk again and has a dr willing to do reconstructive surgery, however i am worried about doing it due to infection after surgery. It would be hard to clear because she is on immunosuppressant due to the transplant.
Lastly, The bone is in soft tissue of some kind, dr’s have no idea what, and have no idea how she is walking.
My questions is, could it be possible to walk and put all her body weight on a leg without a hip?
As she doesn't have pain now, could it be a question of strengthening the leg muscles and she could walk (with cain/do stairs) or would walking without hip joints make her very unstable and be dangerous?
If anyone has any idea who could answer this, please send me the reference. Thank you!!!
I believe that this question is not only beyond anything I have read here about missing hip joints, but also well beyond the scope of a normal orthopedic hip replacement surgery. You need a team approach to getting answers, with her transplant team, a specialized ortho, and quite possibly an infectious disease doc. Does your Mom have access to a large multi disciplinary medical system like Mayo?
Sue
My mother had both of her hips disintegrate and they do not know what tissue she is walking on. I wanted to know how you are doing? Can you walk on your scar tissue? She is supposed to get a major reconstructive hip surgery and was wondering if there is a possibility to walk without going through major surgery? Thank you so much! Hope you are better.
I'm so sorry this took so long! It has been a busy summer for us.I would never suggest that someone not have hip surgery just to avoid the hassle and recovery. Every one of my surgeries were a blessing and made my life better. I was not able to have the fifth hip replacement due to several complications or I certainly would have done it.Some people are able to walk and function with something called "spacers" in the joint for several months. This is usually after a prosthesis has been removed because of infection for example. The plan is to replace the implant after the infection is cured.I have no spacers or any other devices. I stand on what's left of the femur and scar tissue. The leg is almost 4 inches shorter than the other, requiring a huge lift on that shoe which is difficult to walk with.I can't stand properly without it. I need assistance with crutches or a walker to walk, and not for any distance. I use a wheelchair around the house and have a scooter when out and about. I generally walk with crutches or a walker to things like doctor or PT appointments.I hope your mother is doing ok. In my personal opinion I would urge her to consider the surgery. New hips are a wonderful thing!Diane O'NeillSent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
-------- Original message --------
Connect
Connect
Like
Helpful
Hug
Okay, you wrote about the 1950s so there is no way a ton more advanced stuff is not out there! I will keep looking. Thank you.
My mother had both of her hips disintegrate and they do not know what tissue she is walking on. I wanted to know how you are doing? Can you walk on your scar tissue? She is supposed to get a major reconstructive hip surgery and was wondering if there is a possibility to walk without going through major surgery? Thank you so much! Hope you are better.
Can you walk and do stairs? I would love to know to help my mom with no hips. Thank you
Can you contact me? My mom is without 2 hip joints
I am also without a hip joint. Had revision like 2 times and the Dr doesn't want to do the surgery because I had mesa and staff infection. I have a 2 inch lift on my shoe I have to use a walker to get around. Its very difficult for me to do steps of any kind. I had to retire from my job which I was in my 26fh year had 4 years to go for full retirement.
A warm welcome to @reneesa128 and @chellez2222 for joining Mayo Clinic Connect. I wanted to introduce the two of you to each other since you are both new and inquiring about the same situation. Renee for herself and Chelle for her mother.
Can you both tell us a little more about your/your mother's mobility with no hip joint?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionThank you for the warm welcome. Very happy to be part of the community.
My mother had liver failure which caused avn in both of her hips. They are completely gone and they cannot see any bone on the xray. She was in a lot of pain until her liver transplant and could only walk a few steps with a walker.
Since the transplant she does not have pain (the new liver helped rebuild strength), walks 90 steps a day with walker and can free-stand for 15 seconds at a time without buckling.
She wants to walk again and has a dr willing to do reconstructive surgery, however i am worried about doing it due to infection after surgery. It would be hard to clear because she is on immunosuppressant due to the transplant.
Lastly, The bone is in soft tissue of some kind, dr’s have no idea what, and have no idea how she is walking.
My questions is, could it be possible to walk and put all her body weight on a leg without a hip?
As she doesn't have pain now, could it be a question of strengthening the leg muscles and she could walk (with cain/do stairs) or would walking without hip joints make her very unstable and be dangerous?
If anyone has any idea who could answer this, please send me the reference. Thank you!!!
I believe that this question is not only beyond anything I have read here about missing hip joints, but also well beyond the scope of a normal orthopedic hip replacement surgery. You need a team approach to getting answers, with her transplant team, a specialized ortho, and quite possibly an infectious disease doc. Does your Mom have access to a large multi disciplinary medical system like Mayo?
Sue
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsSounds like an amazing treatment plan. Best wishes for recovery for this family.
I'm so sorry this took so long! It has been a busy summer for us.I would never suggest that someone not have hip surgery just to avoid the hassle and recovery. Every one of my surgeries were a blessing and made my life better. I was not able to have the fifth hip replacement due to several complications or I certainly would have done it.Some people are able to walk and function with something called "spacers" in the joint for several months. This is usually after a prosthesis has been removed because of infection for example. The plan is to replace the implant after the infection is cured.I have no spacers or any other devices. I stand on what's left of the femur and scar tissue. The leg is almost 4 inches shorter than the other, requiring a huge lift on that shoe which is difficult to walk with.I can't stand properly without it. I need assistance with crutches or a walker to walk, and not for any distance. I use a wheelchair around the house and have a scooter when out and about. I generally walk with crutches or a walker to things like doctor or PT appointments.I hope your mother is doing ok. In my personal opinion I would urge her to consider the surgery. New hips are a wonderful thing!Diane O'NeillSent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
-------- Original message --------
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions