Conversation: The conversation between human and AI assistant.
[|Human|] My father had back surgery in july and 2 weeks later he was put in the hospital for a staph infection. They have fully treated that but he in extreme pain in his right hip and down his leg when he even tries to switch positions in the bed. He can ben the leg but not lift it. We have had all types of scan and xrays but no answers. He is 77 years old and he is in so much pain he is giving up the will to live. Pain meds do not help. Can you help us figure out where we go next. He is in Harlingen, TX
[|AI|]  Brief Answer:Doesn't Seem to be an infection problemDetailed Answer:Hello Welcome to Chat Doctor. My name is Chat Doctor. I have gone through your query and would try to help you in the best possible way. OUR OPINION:Your father went through Back surgery it definitely would have been done because of pain or movement issue, it got infected, or he got infected from some other source not related to surgery, and he again had to go to hospital, where is Staph infection was treated.  In My opinion the pain and symptoms he has are not suggestive of a complication or an ongoing staph infection unless there is high grade fever general body aches shivering loss of appetite skin rashes or related symptoms of which you mentioned nothing.  So My opinion this issue relates to your fathers back, may be the surgery didn't cure what it should have or may be a new thing has appeared. If I were your doctor after ruling out staph infection (as you are concerned about it) through blood work and culture I would have put all my focus on his orthopedic issues, if it's a structure touching his nerve or a disc compressing on or is it neuralgia of some sort or a muscular pain, For that these days we have got so many state-of-the-art diagnostic modalitieslike MRI Doppler's Nerve conduction studies Radio graphs Ct scans Bone tagging and much more WHAT TO DO NOW:(1) Talk to the doctor who operated/Orthopedic consult: I would suggest you to discuss all the options with your doctor specially the one who operated on him, if there is any complication of surgery or the surgery didn't work or is there any new problem arising, an Orthopedic consult and diagnosis seems to be the key in this problem.(2) Pain clinic: There are specialized pain clinics which can use different methods to relieve pain these clinics can be found specially in association with cancer hospitals and clinics. And here again I will say that Pain can be managed better if diagnosis is made.(3) Support you father mentally don't let him lose hope(4)Physiotherapy: This also is a very developed science these days and can help patients in rehab.CONCLUSION: A good diagnosis first. Hope I have answered your query. If you have any further questions I will be happy to help if not then don't forget to close the discussion and rate it. Wishing you good health !!