Have A Sedimentary Rate Of 28 - After Being As

Have a sedimentary rate of 28 - after being as high as 112. Had two cortisone shots in my hip and developed a cortisone flare with some staph infection thrown in. After three + weeks, the severe pain was reduced, but the staph, apparently, was still present - the ID doc was using the sed. rate as an indicator. Was on IV antibiotics for about 10-weeks, have been off them for almost three weeks, and the sed. rate is now at 28. Need a hip replacement - would it be safe to do so at this stage? thanks you.