I had my second stage revision a week ago. It seems to have gone OK. Most importantly there are no signs of infection. I have a huge scar, though unlike some I'm sort of proud of that. I had a small problem with fluid leaking from the wound and soaking my dressing (and leg) but the nurse in my surgery put a very absorbant dressing on and all seems to be contained now. I haven't had any pain to speak of they kept teling me it would start to hurt "when the epidural wears off" and "when you start moving more" but it hasn't. They had to remove some of the bone so I have a longer than normal shaft.
Walked about 1 mile yesterday and intend building it up slowly.
It's been a slow process but with luck it's downhill from here.
Mike
Well done Michael. No need to tell you not to overdo things at this stage. Speedy recovery.
Dear Michael
All good news then, you did well to walk a mile. Was that without any aids?
All the best
Richard
Carol
That was what my doctor said..
Thanks for your kind wishes.
Mike
Richard
No. I'm using one crutch around the house and two outside. Safer with two especially when the surface is wet.
Cheers
Mike
Good news Mike. Take it steadily, wishing you all the best, Judith
well done Michael ...
one step, one day at a time ...
big warm hug
renee
Great news Mike! Wishing you a safe and healthy recovery!
Judith,
Thank you, much as I'd like to do more I will try and take it slow and steady.
Goal is to be able to look after my wife who is having her hip done at the end of August
Mike
Dear Michael
Yes two crutches are best whilst your muscles are gaining strength as it allows you to develop a good balanced gait.
All the best
Richard
Oh gosh Mike, 2 hippies together. Just a month away, but you do sound as though you are doing well. Take care, Judith
Judith
Seems to be good so far but I know it can be up and down.
It gets a bit uncomfortable if I sit in a chair for too long which is a pain but otherwise - fingers crossed - ok
Mike
Hi Michael- all things hippie dome. My husband 68 is facing surgery after debridment last summer of his prosthetic hip. Of course you know the antibiotic course, which has failed and he is due for needle aspiration this week. Will wait for culture but all the numbers are going up and still on a course of antibiotics, which has seemingly failed. He's in pain too. It seems the surgery went well for you after reading your initial recovery. This is why I am connecting, and I pray you're doing well. Of course we are freaking out. HELP!!!!
Hi Queen Victoria
(Great handle)
I'm doing pretty good. In short my history was:
Nov 2016 diagnosed with chronic infection of my artificial hip. I think this was as a result of bowel surgery. I had a series of CT scans after the surgery which cover the hip as well as the bowel and with hindsight you can see the infection developing.
My surgeon didn't want to put me on antibiotics untiul stage 1. This was so he could take several samples and make sure the antibiotics were the right ones. The consequence of that was that I was oozing pus at a fairly alarming rate from Nov to March.
Stage 1 March 2017. It was quite sore at the beginning. Lifting my leg onto the bed and standing up were the worst. But it didn't hurt much putting a bit of weight on it. I stayed in hospital for a week while the cultured the samples and got my antibiotics right.
It gradually got better over the next 4 months. It was a bit sore but I wasn't taking many painkillers. Mostly paracetamol and a bit of codeine. I couldn't drive but got about with my wife driving or on the train. I was on antibiotics most of this time.
July stage 2. I realised it had been hurting as suddenly it wasn't (other than the effect of the surgery) I've been making steady though rather slower than I wanted progress since. I walk without a stick but I limp a bit especially going up hills but I've played a bit of golf, choosing fairly flat courses. I walk the dog and am getting back into cycling.
So all in all I am lucky that it has woirked out so well. I think I am fortunate that I was reasonably fit before the infection gat bad and I am quite slim, but I'm about the same age as your husband (70 in May)
I hope he does OK too.
Mike
Wow! Most impressed you walked a mile just a week after surgery. It took me several weeks to get that far. I hope you continue to improve quickly. You are obviously very determined.
Hi Melody
I'd forgotten I'd done that. Had to look up the thread to see. It was so much better than with the spacer. I think I'm just lucky and I don't seem to get much pain with the various operations I have had.
Mike
Hi from QV, in the Big Apple, NYC. Im gathering you're from UK from the language. Correct? Warren has had a sinus infection and culture shows staph. Maybe this is the primary source of infection? Sinus ENT dr will be chatting with ortho. No clue if this is the primary source of infection and onward to his hip? Thursday is the aspiration of hip to diagnose infection. Im in terror looking at the future. Trying to be optimistic. HA! Been there/done that. Thanks for your reply and support. Ill post the "situation"
Kind Regards from the Queen,
Vicki