Knee Infection Finally Finishing Up

[greatlakes]

Wow, you are going through quite the ordeal, fingers crossed for you that this is the one that works out!

 

[mamazipp]

Wow, that's quite an amazing surgery. Wishing a smooth recovery from here.

 

[Pumpkin]

Sending positive thoughts your way, that is quite some incision.

 

[sistersinhim]

That looks so painful. You are a strong lady!

 

[Celle]

Thank you for the photo of your wound, @PegGar16 . That's quite extensive!

I know you know them, but here's s reminder of the BoneSmart mantras:
- rest, elevate, ice and take your pain meds by the clock
- if it hurts, don't do it and don't allow anyone - especially a physiotherapist (PT) - to do it to you. exercise only gently
- if your leg swells more or gets stiffer in the 24 hours after doing it, don't do it again
- if you won't die if it's not done, don't do it
- never stand when you can sit, never sit when you can lie down, never stay awake when you can go to sleep!
- be active as much as you need to be but not more than is necessary, meaning so much that you end up being in pain, exhausted or desperate to sit down or lie down!

 

[PegGar16]

Thank you all for the good, strong, thoughts and prayers. I appreciate them all. Today is another relaxing day in the hospital. I only get up for the bathroom. tomorrow they will start with the dangling protocol. This is all about the circulation of the skin graft. I will be able to start lowering my leg and they will monitor the blood flow

 

[sheliac]

More healing prayers being said for you right now.


Shelia
RTKR - 8/23/16
LTKR - 9/20/2016

 

[KarriB]

Is the pain still manageable?

 

[PegGar16]

Thank you @sheliac

Hi @KarriB! It seriously looks worse than it feels. I get IV Toradol (for the inflammation and some pain), Norco and than morphine is ordered for the breakthrough pain which I haven't had to use. They are also giving me heparin injections 4 times a days. The nurses here are great, always checking on me and my pain levels. The leg is being elevated none stop and there is no icing to the graft, because of the blood flow. They do a Doppler on the flap every couple of hours. Tomorrow they will start dangling the leg and watching the blood flow.

 

[KarriB]

Toradol is a lifesaver! It got me over the edge. So happy to hear they are continuing to take good care of you. I'm praying blood flow is good tomorrow and forward.

 

[PegGar16]

@Celle Thank you for the info and I am glad you like the picture. I am actually happy that I saw pictures ahead of time. @Josephine had posted one for me and my plastic surgeon showed my mother and I a picture so it wasn't so shocking to look at the first time. And compared to some pictures I can understand why all the doctors are so happy with mine. What I hadn't thought of was the 1 1/2 ft line of stitches on my other thigh. Along with the spacer exchange my OS also helped by taking out the knee cap. With the tendon gone it has been hanging out in the quad muscle area. Every time that muscle would move or twitch it felt like it was cutting in.

 

[Josephine]

@Josephine had posted one for me

Peggy, please don't tag me in the course of general conversation.

On average I get between 10 and 15 tags a day so you can imagine that getting to a post and finding I'm not actually needed but that my name has just been mentioned in passing and made into a tag is very irritating and time wasting.

Of course you are all very welcome to tag me if you have a specific question or concern. Those I have no concern about whatsoever. Thanks for understanding.

 

[Suz]

Bless your heart Peggy. I am praying for your healing and much better days ahead~

 

[KarriB]

How are you doing, Peggy?

 

[PegGar16]

Hi @KarriB ! I am doing OK, slow and steady. This was a little more intense than I thought it would be. I ended up being in the hospital for 10 days, for the first 6 days I was totally bed bound. I have never been down that long so needless to say my back and back end were killing me. I had my first post op appointment last Wed. They are really happy with the skin graft, They will start taking out the staples and stitches (have both) and remove the drain next Thurs. There are a lot, probably about 150 between the graft on the knee and the thigh (where they took the tissue from). I think I will feel better when the stitches are out. I am having to take more pain meds this time around too. Oh well...this to shall pass One more surgery and it should be done...It will definitely be a better New Year. Still waiting on the grandson...any time now!!

I hope you are doing well.

 

[KarriB]

When does the spacer come out?

 

[PegGar16]

The spacer will come out with the final surgery. I just had to do an ER visit. The pump was not working right and there was some fluid build up, A staple let go and there was a stream of fluid...it was hard not to panic. The graft is still good (heard the Doppler). They were debating on having to do a clean out but ortho didn't think it was necessary with the antibiotic spacer and vanco. Just need to go to my appointment on Thursday morning. Never a dull moment

 

[newlybionic]

I hope that you are able to continue to get better and you will be up,and around soon. My prayers are with you.

 

[PegGar16]

Thank you Marian.

 

[Celle]

I'm sorry you had that scare with the pump not working properly, Peg. I would have been frightened, too!
You did the right thing, in going to the ER as soon as possible.

I hope that you continue to make steady progress. It sounds as if you have a good team on your side.