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Anyone else have total hip replacement surgery then have infection and face multiple surgery?

Posted , 11 users are following.

joyce50464
joyce50464

I had my left hip replacement surgery in 2015 , all went well and have been pain free, was having problems with right hip ,, so I had decided to go ahead with total hip replacement on right hip, so on October 25th 2017 I had surgery, went home and then my leg swelled and had horrible pain 2 weeks latter, I called my surgeon and got in the next day, he drew out 2 big suringes  of pus fluid, he said oh goodness, it’s infected!! I was so scared ,, but agreed to go to hospital that very day and the next day after being admitted he opened same incision and replaced all but the stem in the leg bone and cleans and scraped infection out, which was a Staph infection,, by the way my surgeries were done in front of leg instead of the more common incision on the side of hip,,,and after surgery I was sent home with a pic line to administer IV antibiotics for 6 weeks,, well at home my incision drained so much , I went back to doctor and turns out the antibiotics weren’t working as good as he had hoped,, so my final option was to have a antibiotic temporary spacer in place while getting rid of infection,, and longer IV antibiotics with a oral antibiotic added and then 6-8 weeks latter , “time depending on my blood work” then  I would get another permanent total hip replacement and should be back to good , but to get the second hip out and the spacer in ,, he would have to make a larger incision on back side of my hip up through my buttocks,, so that’s what happened,, now after 3 surgeries,, I sit here with a smaller incision in front that still drains a little and a larger incision up my backside leg,, it is now mid December 2017 right before Christmas and I’m in pain and can’t bear much weight on right leg and pretty helpless for someone who is only 48 years old and normally very active,, awaiting my 4th surgery for my last permanent hip that won’t be done until end of January or mid February,,, I’m hopeful but also very depressed,, feeling my life is on hold and mobility isn’t very much , and administering IV antibiotics in my arm every 8 hours, I can’t pick up my grandkids or go Christmas shopping,,

I was wondering if there is anyone out there that has been through a similar situation and now recovered or still going through it like I am?

I would appreciate some insight 

Thanks ,,,, Joyce

0 likes, 25 replies

25 Replies

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  • brenda67955
    brenda67955 joyce50464

    Posted

    I am waiting for my new hip as wll. I have ha d the spacer since Oct. I am so angry. This never should have happened. I am always in pain. Next week i have lab work. If infection is gone then i will have joint fluid culture. Only then will i be to surgery id inf is gone. Are you in US?
    • joyce50464
      joyce50464 brenda67955

      Posted

      Yes I’m in the US,, I live in Texas,, please let me know how it goes when you have the surgery,, I’m sorry this happened to you as well,, 
  • Rocketman_SG6UK
    Rocketman_SG6UK joyce50464

    Posted

    Joyce,

    That's so much worse than my THR, when I had a revision to try to put right the surgeon and hospital's mistakes - but failed again.  That was not a good Christmas, waiting for the next surgery.

    Going through repeated surgery because of complications is so unpleasant, it's not what we expect to have to go through is it.

    You rightly feel that your life is on hold at the moment, but hopefully you will get sorted out soon and back to recovering on the road to a full and pain free future.

    I am now 2 years out from my THR & (failed) revision, now pain free and doing fine biggrin ...... but still waiting for the legal case for compensation to finish.

    Best wishes

    Graham

    • Rocketman_SG6UK
      Rocketman_SG6UK

      Posted

      That should have read ....  for compensation and an apology to finish.
    • joyce50464
      joyce50464 Rocketman_SG6UK

      Posted

      Glad to hear your doing well,, I haven’t yet thought about fault of the surgeon or hospital,,although I might after this is over, right now I just need to get back on my feet after the final surgery that cost my insurance so far nearly a half million dollars,, and not only did this happen but right before my surgery my husband got laid off work and since my co-pay was met I needed to keep our insurance and in order to do that we had to pay that insurance company $1054.00 and in January probably will owe another co-pay, it’s not easy to pay that on unemployment,,he still isn’t back to work, we haven’t paid our house payment this month and still have to come up with insurance money,this has been a nightmare, and when my husband does get back to work, I will be home alone with no one to help me,, it makes me wish I never had the surgeryrolleyes

      Thank you for your response 

      And good luck!!smile

    • Rocketman_SG6UK
      Rocketman_SG6UK joyce50464

      Posted

      It's figures like that that make me glad I live in the UK, and it is all covered by the health service here.

      Good luck

      Graham

  • christine59470
    christine59470 joyce50464

    Posted

    Hi Joyce my heart goes out to you I’ve had my rhtr done in October the first time I’ve ever had an operation but hopefully all’s well the only problem I’ve got is I can’t sleep as my right knee leg and ankle won’t stop aching but compared to you I’m doing fine hope all goes well for you will be thinking of you  x
    • joyce50464
      joyce50464 christine59470

      Posted

      Thank you,, and hope your recovery continues to do well,, it does take awhile to be able to sleep on surgery side but you won’t even know you had it latter on, cause my left hip replacement has been 2 years ago and it feels normal now
  • amanda1827h
    amanda1827h joyce50464

    Posted

    Hi Joyce,poor you.I had my hip replacement in 2015 I had no one to care for as I had too look after my Disabled Husband. So just wish I had never had it done.To be honest I did all my excerises, but just had problems with care for me.Also it doesn't pay to operate on very tight muscles.If you have another op make sure that you have help at home.!! regards Amanda h

    • joyce50464
      joyce50464 amanda1827h

      Posted

      I’m lucky and unlucky to have my husband here to help me, he is currently 

      Laid off from work, which makes everything else financially hard but if he gets called back to work before this process is done,, I don’t know what I will do,, my daughters have jobs and college and children,, and 2 of the 3 are in another town,,I’m wishing now I have never done this surgery,, I also know what you mean about being a care taker

      I took care of my mom in my home till she passed away in my house and that was July of this year, I honestly don’t know how much grief I can take, cause right now only living off my husbands unemployment checks,, I just pray a lot and hope for the best🙏🏼

  • RichardKen
    RichardKen joyce50464

    Posted

    Dear Joyce

    OMG what a terrible thing to happen.   At least it was dealt with straight away but I wonder how this infection got in, did he have anything to say about it?   What a rotten business that the first repair failed.  

    Very best wishes for a steady improvement and full success at the end of the day.

    Cheers, Richard

    • joyce50464
      joyce50464 RichardKen

      Posted

      Surgeon said he didn’t know how infection got in,, I haven’t even focused on how or why, I am sure I will once I am fixed and I have my fourth and hopefully finally surgery and recovery,, right now it’s scary to think aboutrolleyes

      Thank you for your good wishes

      And you are sure right, it is a good thing my surgeon wasted no time to fix the problemsmile

    • brenda67955
      brenda67955 joyce50464

      Posted

      I was 5 weeks post-op nd ready to go back to work. Incision leaked from day1. Still cant prove how i got inf. ER transferred to Boston very sick. Staph in my bloodstream. 2 debriedments and 6 wks in rehab later. I m single p arent with a mortage. Luckily i had private short term dis ability for 3 mos. My employer offers long term for 90 days but its a portion of my pay. I still have bills ccurring. Are you walking without any aids. I use w heelchair and walker. This has been the darkest point of my life. I am alone but have friends come by nd son me into for appts. I just want this over with.
    • joyce50464
      joyce50464 brenda67955

      Posted

      Oh my goodness,, sounds like you have had it rough too, I am so sorry,, I know what you mean about it being a darkest point in your life,, it’s a lonely feeling even if others are around, no one can understand the devistation I feel, thank you for sharing,, I don’t know how my infection came either and I often am angry that I decided to have the surgery in the first place, , my husband tries to tell me not to think like that, cause eventually I would have been in constant pain from my hip being bone on bone if I didn’t do something, and how could we know since, the surgery I had on left hip 2 years ago went as planned,, but I still feel devistated and depressed,, I filed for disability, but in Texas it is very hard to get disability, short or long term,, my heart and prayers go out to you,, I am using a walker and a wheelchair as well,, my spacer hip is uncomfortable,, I can’t hardly sleep and it feels like a constant restless leg sensation,, I too just want this oversad please keep me informed of your progress,, I am so interested in knowing how your doing.
    • brenda67955
      brenda67955 joyce50464

      Posted

      In Mass. It usually takes 3 tries before disability is approved. When i had my knees done it was approved on the second try.
    • joyce50464
      joyce50464 brenda67955

      Posted

      That is pretty good,, only 2 -3 tries,, here in Texas I know so many people that have tried up to 5 times and still trying, one of them is a woman who is a single parent that has a kid with severe RA and Asburgurs disease and something and some other thing wrong that most the time he is in a wheelchair,

      And I have a brother who has MS and was turned down. I’m so glad you were able to get disability,, wow ,, you had your knees done as well? You have really been through itrolleyes

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