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Walking without a hip joint

Posted by dzoneill @dzoneill, Mar 10, 2017

Is anyone currently walking without a hip joint?

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Profile picture for radcalrose
radcalrose | @radcalrose | Oct 3, 2023

Hi. I had my left hip removed in March. I don’t have a brace but I did get a lift on my shoe. Went to a Orthotic company. I will be trying out at PT tomorrow. I know I will have to get use to it since I have been walking unbalanced. I am going to a pain management since I can’t tolerate the pain in the groin. Can’t walk without it being painful. I am hoping in the future that I can get a hip. More than happy to answer any questions you may have. Take care Janeen 🙏

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1 reply
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robinlloyd | @robinlloyd | Oct 3, 2023
In reply to @janeen17 "Hi, I'm 3 mo post Girdlestone and just recently was given permission to put limited weight..." + (show)
Profile picture for janeen17 @janeen17

Hi, I'm 3 mo post Girdlestone and just recently was given permission to put limited weight on my leg. May I ask what your hip brace is like? and also where did you get the lift made for your shoe? I asked my surgeon to refer me to an orthotics clinic. Would that be the right sort of place? (Btw he said it's too early to get a shoe lift because things will still be "settling " for a while. Thanks, Janeen

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Hanger prosthetics built my best brace, but no one does molded leather anymore. My girdlestone failed, so I’m actually missing 11 3/8 inches of bone between my femur & Acetabulum. Consequencely, no prosthetics they make now will support my hip. But my case was highly complicated & I was a case study with Jeffrey W. Mast, who developed the POA process. He actually flew in from Switzerland to pick up my case. I sincerely hope you can acquire a a brace that supports you properly.

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Cindy | @cmarsh | Oct 3, 2023
In reply to @dzoneill "I was born with a congenital hip dislocation and had 3 surgeries between the ages of..." + (show)
Profile picture for dzoneill @dzoneill

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.

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Hello...I realize your post is very old and you might not even check the website any more, but I see you were in Michigan and perhaps still are. I am also in Michigan and had Girdlestone Resection in Feb 2022. I can get around with 2 crutches now but would love to chat further with you and see how you're doing now if that's possible. I'm 71 years old. Thank you for listening and I hope we can connect....Cindy

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janeen17 | @janeen17 | Oct 4, 2023
In reply to @radcalrose "Hi. I had my left hip removed in March. I don’t have a brace but I..." + (show)
Profile picture for radcalrose @radcalrose

Hi. I had my left hip removed in March. I don’t have a brace but I did get a lift on my shoe. Went to a Orthotic company. I will be trying out at PT tomorrow. I know I will have to get use to it since I have been walking unbalanced. I am going to a pain management since I can’t tolerate the pain in the groin. Can’t walk without it being painful. I am hoping in the future that I can get a hip. More than happy to answer any questions you may have. Take care Janeen 🙏

Jump to this post

My leg moves dramatically internally and without warning when I put weight on it, which makes me feel like the leg is unstable. I thought that maybe a brace would help with that. Do you feel movement within your leg when you use it?

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3 replies
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radcalrose | @radcalrose | Oct 6, 2023

I am missing a hip and had a lift put on my shoe. I am having a problem with the added weight of the lift. My PT said it was heavy. I do manage but hard to move. Is there a better lift than the one I have that might be a little lighter to walk? I also want to know if anyone is having groin pain where the hip was removed. It gets very frustrating when trying to move. I also have foot drop on the same side. Any advice? Would appreciate it.

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radcalrose | @radcalrose | Oct 6, 2023
In reply to @janeen17 "My leg moves dramatically internally and without warning when I put weight on it, which makes..." + (show)
Profile picture for janeen17 @janeen17

My leg moves dramatically internally and without warning when I put weight on it, which makes me feel like the leg is unstable. I thought that maybe a brace would help with that. Do you feel movement within your leg when you use it?

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I feel that when I move the leg it’s like it’s just there and hard to lift when walking. After the holidays are over I am going to try and see if I can have a hip put in. I still need to get stronger before I can do anything. I want a consultation to see if it’s possible. I was told to go to California or Mayo Clinic in Arizona.

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bmsmith1030 | @bmsmith1030 | Dec 24, 2023
In reply to @dzoneill "I was born with a congenital hip dislocation and had 3 surgeries between the ages of..." + (show)
Profile picture for dzoneill @dzoneill

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.

Jump to this post

I'm about to have my 4th THR. 1st one came loose, 2nd got infected and now this one is loose and infected. Was told I will have to go several months without a hip. Having trouble wrapping my head around how I will do that. If you any tips or helpful hints, It would be much appreciated

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2 replies
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bmsmith1030 | @bmsmith1030 | Dec 24, 2023
In reply to @janeen17 "My leg moves dramatically internally and without warning when I put weight on it, which makes..." + (show)
Profile picture for janeen17 @janeen17

My leg moves dramatically internally and without warning when I put weight on it, which makes me feel like the leg is unstable. I thought that maybe a brace would help with that. Do you feel movement within your leg when you use it?

Jump to this post

Sounds like what happen after my 1st hip replacement and they found that it was loose n freely moving in my leg

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Profile picture for radcalrose
radcalrose | @radcalrose | Dec 25, 2023
In reply to @janeen17 "My leg moves dramatically internally and without warning when I put weight on it, which makes..." + (show)
Profile picture for janeen17 @janeen17

My leg moves dramatically internally and without warning when I put weight on it, which makes me feel like the leg is unstable. I thought that maybe a brace would help with that. Do you feel movement within your leg when you use it?

Jump to this post

Hi Janeen. I do have a problem without the hip but I also have a drop foot which I can’t feel when I walk. I’m hoping the drop foot comes back but no one knows. My leg feels like it’s dead and heavy. I don’t know about a brace but I do wear one for my drop foot. I am going to try at a later time to get a new hip but I have to lose weight first. Wishing you the best🙏

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sandralowery | @sandralowery | Dec 25, 2023
In reply to @peaky1966 "Hi, I had a Girdlestone procedure in July 2018 due to cancer. I am currently undergoing..." + (show)
Profile picture for peaky1966 @peaky1966

Hi, I had a Girdlestone procedure in July 2018 due to cancer. I am currently undergoing radiotherapy treatment. I can walk with crutches or a frame and can get up and down stairs with one crutch and a hand rail. I do have significant muscle loss on my bad leg and it is also about 3cm shorter. I'm eager to walk again as unaided as possible. Any tips or advice would be gratefully received

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Hi, I have a girdle stone over 5 years ago. I can't remember exact date. I would have to look it up. I have had no trouble except my leg is several inches shorter. I can walk with a cane. I have mysthenia gravis an, the hip replacement would not hold. Hope this help.

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