United States
I met with my surgeon’s PA, who has been involved in everything since the beginning back in July, earlier this morning. He was also at both my surgeries. He said left leg xrays, which they took during recovery yesterday, look great - no signs of infection!!! Whew!!!! And while they were in my right knee they cleaned out all the scar tissue, so I’ll have much better range of motion in that knee now. I told him I already do because it straightens. He explained that they met with the Stryker team (that’s the company that makes the artificial joints and robotic arm that assists with the surgery) to consult on my case earlier this week, so I got the very best temporary cement spacer on the market. That’s how I ended up with the dynamic spacer. I am very grateful for this!!! My husband got a little confused when he heard about the dynamic spacer and thought I didn’t need to go though another knee replacement. But it’s only a temporary cement spacer. I still have to have the real metal/plastic implant put in once the infection is cleared.
The PA also said there was not much pus, so we caught the insidious infection early. They didn’t see anything but inflammation until they took the lower implant out of the tibia bone. That’s where the infection had been hiding. I have some bone loss on the medial front side of tibia, and that’s exactly where the sore spot has been these last few weeks. I’m so relieved there was a reason for all I was feeling in my right leg and that it is getting resolved. I’m not stuck with a bum right knee, and the left knee looks ok.
I’ll know more about the infection later today when I talk to my infectious disease dr. The PT is coming by soon to evaluate me as well. I am also supposed to get the picc line inserted today. I can’t wait to get the iv needle out of my left inside wrist. It is so uncomfortable, and I can’t really use that hand with it in there. So many people in and out of my room! I finally got to eat some breakfast at 9:30. I had been trying to order food since 7:30, but someone in surgeon’s office forgot to put in my dietary order. They won’t let you order food without your doctor’s permission. The bacon and scrambled eggs were yummy!
The PA also said there was not much pus, so we caught the insidious infection early. They didn’t see anything but inflammation until they took the lower implant out of the tibia bone. That’s where the infection had been hiding. I have some bone loss on the medial front side of tibia, and that’s exactly where the sore spot has been these last few weeks. I’m so relieved there was a reason for all I was feeling in my right leg and that it is getting resolved. I’m not stuck with a bum right knee, and the left knee looks ok.
I’ll know more about the infection later today when I talk to my infectious disease dr. The PT is coming by soon to evaluate me as well. I am also supposed to get the picc line inserted today. I can’t wait to get the iv needle out of my left inside wrist. It is so uncomfortable, and I can’t really use that hand with it in there. So many people in and out of my room! I finally got to eat some breakfast at 9:30. I had been trying to order food since 7:30, but someone in surgeon’s office forgot to put in my dietary order. They won’t let you order food without your doctor’s permission. The bacon and scrambled eggs were yummy!
