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TKR Late Bloomer<

You are definitely on the road to total recovery!
 
I hope you are getting used to the 'contraption' and it's not too bothersome. Hang in there, it will aid healing and get to to your goal faster.
Healing thoughts,
Tabby xxx
 
Well night #1 went real well with the wound vac, no alarms going off for seals broken. But the doctor was very theral (sp) in her work. Also had a really good nights sleep.
Got up this morning and thought, I don't know if I am up to figuring out how to dress myself and hide the tubing this morning, but I pushed on and all and all the day went well. A alarm went off when I got home and thank goodness it did, as it said the battery was getting low, had totally forgot about charging it. So that has made me sit down and relax for a bit. Day#1 hasn't been so bad, need to read up and figure out how to shower with it, the doctor said to wrap the dressing with press and seal. But I need to figure out what to clamp off and disconnect.
 
Asked the dr, how I could have picked up the infection that the culture shows my knee has in it. She said any hospital setting is a good possibility as it's a form of strep and staph. On a 10 day course of antibotics and after the ten days that may not be enought to have cleared it up completely. May then be switched to a different antibotic.
There were times when I went to p/t and didn't cover the wound, and other times went to the dr. office, guess it would have been best to have it covered at all times, to prevent something like this from happening. Lesson learned to cover open wounds. It would have been a good safety procaution for me and for others who were also using the same equip.
 
I'm glad you made it through your first 24 hours with the wound vacation. That's one less day you will need to use it. Did they give you any idea how long they thought you might need it?
 
@zzevi So glad you're getting your infection resolved. It should be all uphill from now on. :SUNsmile: I was discharged today from Sauk and it feels good to be home. You were correct about the excellent care there. I was really impressed with their program and with nursing personnel. Who is your OS? Mine is Dr. Lamson. Keep up the good work!!
 
I had to wrap my arm with the PICC line to shower. I used cling wrap and wrapped it with two separate pieces, then I used the hand held shower so the water wasn't running down my arm.
 
zzevi said:
Asked the dr, how I could have picked up the infection that the culture shows my knee has in it. She said any hospital setting is a good possibility as it's a form of strep and staph. On a 10 day course of antibotics and after the ten days that may not be enought to have cleared it up completely. May then be switched to a different antibotic.
There were times when I went to p/t and didn't cover the wound, and other times went to the dr. office, guess it would have been best to have it covered at all times, to prevent something like this from happening. Lesson learned to cover open wounds. It would have been a good safety procaution for me and for others who were also using the same equip.
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You'll probably never know where the infection came from.

Don't go blaming yourself for anything you did - this was sheer bad luck, not your fault.
 
I worried and pondered about what could have caused my infection, but the OS and ID both said we'll never know and not to worry about it. My incision was totally covered, never saw the light of day for 2 weeks when the staples came out. I'm a better for going through it, that's for sure.
 
@KarriB it's just me, I am always trying to figure out the whys in life. I won't ponder on it to much, but I do like to know other peoples thoughts and makes me wonder if I should have done things differently or if I have to go thru it again what to do differently.
 
No it's not just you. I actually asked my OS and ID could it have happened while showering, could it have been from a bad cut I got that summer that bled and seeped, could it be a result of a dental infection I had. Both docs were very patient with me, but said we'll never know. I remembered the cut on my leg in February, the infection surgery occurred November 27th. I was obsessed with how it got infected. Then I asked Josephine two years later! Guess what she said...
 
Well new issue tonight, for the last week or so my lower back has really been bothering me. Made a point of going for a chiropractor treatment prior to the wound vac being hooked up. Now my back is really bothering me to the point that it feels like it's going to spasm. My adjustment went well, it was off on both side in my lower back. I maynot have held the adjustment no service on a Saturday unless you need an emergency appt. I've been plagued with lower back problems especially about 20 yrs back went thru a rough patch of back issues. Really hoping I can turn this around. Work in general seems to be hard for me, I think the extra walking and it's not a normal walk yet really is upsetting my lower back. Suggestions, do you think if I would go to using my cane that it would help me walk better? Plus with having dressing on my knee it's preventing regular movement also. Think over all I am walking pretty stiff legged, I'm also walking hunched over, I was unaware of it but the chiropractor mentioned it to me the other day, asked if I was having a issue straightening up, if I wasn't then, I sure am now. But I read where people state you don't bend down correctly because of the knee and I know I am reaching for things differently right now and probably stressing my back more.
 
It can't hurt to use the cane. Try it this weekend at home. You're right, you haven't been able to work on your gait/walking much because of the incision.
 
I also used a heating pad on my back as suggested by my chiropractor. I used if on ancient off for a couple of weeks along with several visits a week for a month or so to the chiropractor. I hope it begins to feel better soon.
 
I still use my cane when I go out in crowds or know I have lots of walking to do. I am conscious to stand up straight and use it for balance in a nice fluid movement with my gait. It really helps me.
 
Still experiencing some achiness in my back today yet, not as bad as bed time when it seemed like it was spasms and they came out of no where. Another Saturday that I am taking it easy, have a little laundry and vacuuming to get done, doing very little leaning more towards resting.
Also when the RN who qualified in wound care changed my dressing she suggested I get some boost or ensure to drink, ( I'm not a skinny mini, more of the heavy side) but the suggestion was to get extra protein in, she said that will also help with the wound healing. So I bought a 4 pk and enjoyed 1 this morning. ( wasn't so bad, my sister said if you need to use them for a long period of time you may get tired of the taste. Planning on mine being short lived. )
 
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My OS did tell me to be on a high protein diet, so I every morning I had eggs and sausage and some sort of chicken or red meat for dinner. He also said it would help the healing process.
 
Was reading some of the threads posted by members that have had to deal with infections. I was wondering are infections most common when your still healing from surgery or months or yrs later?
I think and hope as we didn't discuss the infection part to my wound much that it's isn't the issue that others have had to deal with.
Wound has looked better at both the last 2 visits for the wound vac, the first one the dr, said the wound had improved on it's own from the our first visit till when the wound vac was put on.
Friday's dressing change the measurement of the wound had changed a little, not sure what measurement was for what part, but I know the one number had decreased.
The nurse who did my dressing thought maybe a couple weeks would be all I would need the vac.
After this heals am I always going to have to be more vigilant then most and watch for signs of infection??
Although with what I've had going on, I would have never guess there was any infection as I didn't have sign and symtops of a infection, think overall it's a mild case if that's possible. Hoping with follow up visits I can find out more about this whole situation, to see if it actually was serious or not, if the concern was mostly for the wound or both the wound and infection.
Just wanted to hear from others who have dealt with infections, how did they start? and how far out from surgery??
 
My infection began about a month after the TKR surgery with slight seeping, small enough that I didn't think anything of it. Then 5 days later a high fever and 24 hours after that massive seeping from a closed infection. But that's not necessarily the case for everyone. Some never experince a fever, some don't have seeping. I was treated with an antibacterial washout/spacer exchange, oral and IV antibiotics. I'm still taking 100 mg of doxycline a day and see my infectious disease doctor twice a year. There are several articles in the library on infections you can check out.
 
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