March 7, 2009 I had my left hip resurfaced in August of 2007. My right resurfaced in November of 2007. I enjoyed amazing pain relief and had a good summer and fall of 2008. In October of 2008, I had some foot surgery on my left foot which required the use of crutches and using my right leg exclusively for six weeks. Shortly after the New Year, I started getting pain in my right hip and thigh, very much like it was before the repair. The Doctor first thought it might be appliance failure and then perhaps a stress fracture and put me back on crutches and pain pills.

The pain is getting worse, especially at the end of day when at rest. When the leg “sets up” I can’t engage the muscle without severe pain. Ice helps but only temporary. Needing more pain pills on a more frequent timing. The Doctor is not exactly sure what is happening but ultimately suggests a THR. I certainly don’t want to have further surgery unless its the only answer.

August 12, 2009 On March 9th I visited my Dr. in severe pain and he had me in for a THR the next day. He found that I had an infection that had essentially made the femur neck die and thus loosen the appliance. He did not have to change the cup.

Where did I get the infection? We may never know but as I said in my original post, after my resurfacing, I had some foot surgery that required external pins from my toes. My doctor thinks I picked up an infection which went to my femur neck on my right hip. (I wonder why I wasn’t on antibiotics during this time?) The next six weeks after surgery required antibiotics done daily in a home infusion. I am happy to report that all is well. Water aerobics continues to help. My left resurfacing seems to be OK.