Knee Infection* My L T K R Diary 2020

My heart goes out to you as you struggle so much with this recovery, especially after having a very successful recovery with your other leg.
 
Many thanks for all your replys and encouragement its very much appreciated.
Yes this has been a very painfull and long journey even now when I go into my workshop and do light jobs I get tired so quickly so I need to build myself up.
Just such a slow job getting the knee bend which does get me down.
Still quite swollen as you can see from my posts above.
Haven't been able to drive and I do miss not being able to go for a cycle ride which I enjoy.
 
I get tired so quickly so I need to build myself up.
I think you still get so tired so quickly because your body is still trying to heal, and has been for a long time, with these last surgeries, plus the infection. With all the swelling you have, it’s going to be a while yet, before you can build yourself up. I believe that will happen when your healing is able to make more progress. Try to hang in there and believe that you will indeed progress, in time.
 
Take little baby steps, one day at a time. Rest will help you to heal. Take advantage of that!
 
Well I am getting very frustrated at the moment my knee bend just seems to be stuck with no inprovment from week to week.
As the above photo shows its still very swollen and feels solid.
When I walk and try to bend it seems to just lock out.
I may try to get in touch with the consultant but I know the private hospital where I had it done are running limited services
I feel very frustrated alone at the moment.
 
@Defender are you still icing and elevating several sessions per day? Please don't worry about your ROM just now. That poor knee has been through so much. Focus on getting that swelling under control and the ROM will naturally follow.

Can you call your consultant's medical secretary?
 
Defender, I know it must seem like you've been dealing with this situation forever. But your last surgery was just about 2 months ago. It's not unusual for an angry knee like yours to take months for improvement. The swelling has to go down first.

I suggest that you talk with your surgeon or your GP about the use of a wearable device that helps with swelling called the geko. This product was developed in the UK and has pretty broad use there. Perhaps it would help you. It requires a prescription from one of your medical doctors.
 
Well it's been 10 weeks now and knee still swollen with very little bend.
Surely this should be easing by now.
 
Have you spoken again with your surgeon? Are you seeing no improvement at all? Or is it just slower than you would like? I know it's frustrating, but when I mentioned it could take months to resolve, I meant like 3-6 months. During that time, providing you are icing your knee regularly and not overdoing the exercise and activity (just enough to keep your knee bending and loose), you should see small improvements every week or two.

It would be helpful if you could get your surgeon to order a geko to try.
 
My physiotherapist is calling me Friday and I am going to say I need a face to face as soon as possible
He did say next time if no improvement he will have to see me and decide to get my surgeon to take a look.
I have lost all confidence with this hospital.
I know we have the covid to deal with but that's no excuse not to get this sorted.
I want my life back.
 
If you've lost confidence in the hospital and surgeon, are you willing to travel somewhere else to have a different surgeon look at your knee?
 
Depending on what happens with the phone call and outcome I have no option.
I need to find out why my knee is so swollen and stopping me from being able to walk.
@Jamie
 
Okay. Let us know and perhaps @Jaycey can help you find a surgeon for a second opinion.
 
Had to call ambulance last night at midnight.
The pain had been in lncreasing during the day.
I couldn't go down the stairs they called out three ambulances as I have a twist at the top of the stairs.
They strapped me on a hard stretcher.
They are going to drain my knee and give me M U A.
My internet connection here is not good so may not be able to reply
Wish me luck.
 
Please don't let them do a MUA. With your knee that painful and swollen, it'll just make it that much worse. Are you still on antibiotics? I think you need to have your fluid tested for different bacteria. Your knee should not be reacting this way. My prayers are with you. :prayer:
 
@Defender, I'm shocked that an orthopedic surgeon would recommend an MUA on an extremely swollen knee. That is not usually why these manipulations are done. There is a reason for the continued and worsening swelling and that needs to be determined. You really must seek a second opinion at a totally different hospital to get another set of eyes on your knee. Since you had an infection just a few months ago, the likely problem is that the washout and antibiotics didn't eliminate all of the infection. Obviously I have not seen your knee and I cannot actually diagnose anything that's going on, but that possibility should certainly be explored immediately.

I'm going to ask my co-admin @Jaycey to see if she can help you locate a different surgeon. She is in the UK and will have more knowledge about the good doctors than I do.
 
@Defender I certainly hope they didn't go ahead with MUA! Are you in the position to travel to Surrey for a second opinion?
 
I suggest you try to get to see Paul Allen at Harlow. He was recommended by my knee surgeon John Ireland, and has done a very successful TKR on a good friend of mine. I don't know if he's a revision specialist, but I do know he's highly regarded. IMO a new view on your case could only help.
 
What they have done just back from theatre.
They have drained fluid from knee and have sent it to the lab so they can get me on the right antibiotic.
I am now back in the ward on a C P M machine.
Different hostpital different surgeon.
20200714_115230.jpg
 
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