TKR Back again in 2021 ☺

[Jockette]

I had my stitches out at exactly 2 weeks and my surgeon’s office told me to put some sort of vitamin E cream on it, they said anything with vitamin E in it, so I did, and I was fine.

I didn’t find Bonesmart until about 4 weeks post op, so I didn’t know that it was better to wait until the incision healed more.

But I was fine. As Josephine said, it’s possible to cause an infection, not a guarantee that you will.

I wouldn’t worry about it. Most of us are told to put something on the scar, but it’s not necessary.

 

[sistersinhim]

I agree with the others. Don't worry about an infection. You did it only once and very unlikely any harm will come from it. I wouldn't touch your scabs or your incision at all. Let your own body take care of it. Do you have any of the Active Skin Repair that our upper banner shows? I swear by this stuff and you can use it as soon as you take your bandage off. Click on it and read about it.

 

[Benay]

I have 2 tiny pinprick scabs still on my scar and, like you, doing a quiet freak out about my mederma cream massage. Blaming my OS.

 

[dogwalker2]

Sorry all. I am not usually such a drama queen. I have been a bit over-sensitive a day today. As you say, there's a world of difference between "might" and "will". I will research Active scar and see if it is something we can get in the UK. @Benay, I am sure we will both be fine xx
I have noticed one amazing thing, I have had a bend in my tibia for many years and now it is quite straight again - well now, that's a bonus☺☺!!

 

[Benay]

@dogwalker2 I've sworn off reading revisions and infections in the threads.. Makes me feel I have each and every one of them or in imminent danger of developing same

 

[Jockette]

We are also on an emotional rollercoaster as well as physical, with this recovery. I had many fears and melt downs and I’m not usually drama queen, either.

 

[Celle]

First, take a few deep breaths.
It's not likely that one application of Bio-Oil will have caused any infection, especially if it was a newly-opened bottle. The biggest danger is when you use a bottle or tube that has been open for some time, because bacteria might have been introduced into the lotion or cream.

If you shower, using any sort of soap, rinse well, and dry your scar by patting it gently with a clean towel, that should be an adequate precaution.

Unless you see any signs of infection (Increased heat, pain, redness, swelling, possibly running a fever) I don't think there's any need to see a doctor, or to take antibiotics - save them for if you actually have an infection. Taking antibiotics "just in case" is one reason why we now have antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

 

[dogwalker2]

Thanks everyone, have recovered from headless chicken mode! Scar looking good today. Turns out I had 36 staples removed yesterday (not 29), as my daughter has carefully counted them all, twice!!☺.
Very gentle exercise going well plus 5 min walk as well as a couple of ADLs (am now pacing myself much better).
6am now taking 4× 1000mg paracetamol and x2 of 400ng ibuprofen plus x1 of 200mg ibuprofen (have halved my mid afternoon dose for last 3 days. All well so far, would like to lose the mid afternoon ibuprofen all together next week. Am taking x1 of 15mg lansoprazole as my tummy is not too keen on much ibuprofen. Does that sound reasonable for day 16?

 

[Josephine]

Well, ladies, think of it this way: consider you start at zero risk with putting a cream on your wound. But every time you put cream on it and massage it in, your risk could (I said could not would!) go up by about 0.2 of a point. But it might not. But it's certain that over a period of time, you could increase the risk of infection by a little bit here and there until it got to a higher risk factor. So what I'm saying is that the risk of small but even a small risk is not worth it.

The other reason I am not in favour of massaging creams, lotions and potions onto/into a wound is that you risk it being made sore. And it's not as if it gains you anything. Your wound/scar will heal up just fine if left to it's own devices.

These scars are a perfect example. The first one was my knee replacements and the other one is my sister's hip. Neither had any applications or massage. I thing they speak for themselves!

 

[dogwalker2]

Wow, those scars have healed well ! Yes, I understand what you mean - no particular gain and a small, but possibly increasing risk. All things being equal I think I will let my scar do its own thing☺!

 

[dogwalker2]

Considering the way that i elevate. Does the attached picture look like a good elevation. I do get pins and needles in my toes, does that mean my stack is too high? I wanted to get a lounge doctor pillow, but they are not for sale in the uk and the postal charge from the USA is massive!

 

[Jockette]

I think a better photo would be of looking at you from the side, and your whole leg, from hip to foot, in the picture.

These are examples of elevating correctly, with the knee slightly bent:

 

[dogwalker2]

I tried that but it says file too big to upload. Nevermind

 

[dogwalker2]

I will try again in the morning..

 

[sistersinhim]

I think your elevation looks good. You really can't elevate too high. We say toes above your nose is ideal. I wouldn't worry about the tingling toes. That goes with this recovery. This surgery affects our whole body.

 

[dogwalker2]

Here is a picture of my night time elevation (one pillow and cushion) and daytime elevation (when icing or resting in bed)


At intervals during the day I use the sofa with my leg up on an ottoman and a pillow. Does this look good to you all?

Grateful for all comments please.

 

[Atlas_aus]

Hello,

Just caught up on your post. Your elevation looks close to mine. It seems now you have slowed down a bit things are improving. Just remember resting, elevating & icing is "not doing nothing"....

You have to give your body time to heal and remember most of us are not spring chickens when we get to needing new joints so don't be so hard on yourself

Good luck with the rest of your recovery.

 

[Jockette]

Your leg angle looks fine, but you could go a bit lower and see if the pins and needles stop. You do want to be as comfortable as you can.

 

[LaxMom]

@dogwalker2 - I have nothing to add about your elevation but can we talk about how cute that dog is in the picture! Just having that sweet thing by your side must help in the recovery. Enjoy your furry friend.

 

[dogwalker2]

Hi LaxMom! There are two of them, the one lookingcat the camera is Lola (who is our rescue dog, with a heart breaking history) who my daughter has nicknamed "Nurse Lola" as she has not voluntarily left my side since I got home from hospital and lies beside me on the bed with her head on my shoulder, snoring in my ear!! She is a tricolour cavalier king charles spaniel, age unknown but no spring chicken. If you look carefully in the second picture you will see a Brown and white back of a dog. That's Harvey our lovely Blenheim Cavalier King Charles spaniel, age5. We have had him from 8 weeks. They are wonderful companions and family dogs and I could go on about them for hours Mind you, not a lot of room in bed at night now with me, my leg elevation pillows, two dogs and longsuffering hubby.