Knee Infection* My L T K R Diary 2020

I saw my consultant Monday he sent me for x ray.
Everything ok but he noticed my knee bend had deteriorated so has booked me in to see physio tomorrow Thursday.
She is ok not too pushy so I don't mind going.

My consultant said I will probably have to stay on antibiotics for the rest of my life.
The last three C R P results have been creeping up and I am concerned about it makes me feel so low after all this time.
The last three C R P results are.

19.9
24.2
28.00
 
Try to be patient with your knee and build up the strength slowly. Mine took a while but it has a normal ROM. All my surgeon have me do was straight leg lifts and ride the recumbent bike.

There are a lot of people who have to take antibiotics for life for many different reasons.

Please don't let the CRP's depress you. I will never have a "normal" number. It shows inflammation that can be caused from a number of things, not just infection. You should Google it----it might make you feel better.
 
This has been a long haul for you, @Defender. While I know you're not in the place you want to be right now, it does seem there are some bright spots you can try to focus on. When you're faced with so many challenges, it's good to try and see something good in life each day - friends, family, nature, maybe something that is better than it was in the past. I hope you can find these things that will bring you a smile now and then.
 
Went out for a nice walk around the garden centre yesterday
I found pushing the trolley was easier than using a stick.

I was in so much pain last night couldn't sleep lower back pain and top of legs
I have been in my workshop doing a couple of jobs today now my knee is so stiff with very little bend.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing really wish I had my old leg back at least I had a life walking distance wasn't good but now after 13 months since of having my first replacement I am so limited on my daily living.

Sorry had to get that off my chest felling so low.
 
I’m so sorry you feel this way. I, too, wish I had my old knee back, and I haven’t been through near as much as you. We are all hoping that things will resolve and heal for you in time.
 
I am praying that your new knee will soon make you happy you have a tkr. What does the doctor say?
 
I am praying that your new knee will soon make you happy you have a tkr. What does the doctor say?
I am not seeing consultant the 8th of may but he didn't expect to get more than 90 degree bend
I am at 80 degrees and after physio I get 85 degrees.
Still unable to go without a stick.
 
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Does he have a reason for your lack of bend? Are you able to seek a second opinion?
 
Does he have a reason for your lack of bend? Are you able to seek a second opinion?
All I was told that he could only get 90 degree bend during the replacement.

The thing is I had already had 3 operations and went into surgery with a swollen knee that had been in a brace for 20 weeks.

It is still swollen now the physiotherapist said it may never look like the other one which was replaced 3 years ago all went well with that one.
 
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@Defender ..... I'm sorry you're feeling low. I know the slow progress is frustrating. Even if it makes sense that you would take much longer to heal with all your knee has been through, it doesn't help when you want to be back at living life again. I hope you can find joy in the things that are better now than months ago. Sometimes it helps to write down any small steps of progress (like walking around the garden center among beautiful plants) so you can read them later when you might not be having such a great day. There are going to be plenty of ups and downs, but hopefully the "ups" will be in the majority soon.

It's okay to grieve the loss of your old knee and whatever mobility you had with it. That's pretty normal when a person is having a lot of post-op challenges. But the reality is that, had you kept your knee, it would not have remained as you remember it. Arthritis doesn't work like that....it's degenerative (meaning it continues to get worse). By this time you most likely would have bone damage from the surfaces rubbing together constantly. That can be extremely painful and eventually result in a person needing a wheelchair. I believe as you continue to make progress, these feelings of regret will lessen.

Once your knee has had a chance to completely settle (that could be up to a year from now) and you know the infection is under control, you could seek out additional opinions on your flexibility. It is possible that you have developed scar tissue (adhesions) that are restricting your joint bend. There is a surgical process for removing adhesions, but it takes a REALLY specialized orthopedic surgeon to do it properly so they don't return. Just keep that thought in the back of your mind as you continue to slowly increase your daily activity and regain strength you've lost in that leg and your whole body. The good news is that you are in London and you should be able to find such as specialist without having to drive long distances when you're at a point that you want to check into that option.

Right now the goal is to heal and settle those soft tissues. Sending you ((((HUGS)))) and strength!
 
Hi all.
I have noticed when standing and bending my knee there is a sort of ripping noise.
If I hold my hand on my knee while bending it you can actually feel it.

What could this be I am seeing my consultant on Monday.
 
It's good you're seeing your doctor on Monday. I don't have a ripping noise that I can hear and feel but a 'knocking' in my knee. It causes no pain at all, just is noticeable when the room is quiet.
 
Well I am seeing my consultant tomorrow and I do have a few questions I want answered.
The more I walk (with a stick) the stiffer my knee gets it gets to a point where there is no bend at all.
Still getting a lot of aching and this crunching sound I get when standing and doing a squat.
It feels like something ripping if I hold my hand on my knee.
My knee bend is about 80 degrees.

So much of the things I could do have been taken away even tying a shoe lace is a chore.

Maybe if they had taken more notice when I went back to hospital after my original knee replacement in terible pain they should have done tests and found I had an infection things may not have got so bad

Sorry fo the rant but I feel totally let down.
 
Defender,
Sorry to hear about your continuing challenges.
When I make certain moves I have that velcro ripping sound in my knee. Let your consultant know when you see them.
Sorry fo the rant but I feel totally let down.
That is one of the reasons we are here if you need to rant.
:tantrum2:
 
Defender,
Sorry to hear about your continuing challenges.
When I make certain moves I have that velcro ripping sound in my knee. Let your consultant know when you see them.
Sorry fo the rant but I feel totally let down.
That is one of the reasons we are here if you need to rant.
:tantrum2:
Yes good description velcro.
Mine sounds similar more like rice crispys
 
No worries about a rant. I'd venture to guess we've all been there. I'm glad you've got an appointment. Make sure to let us know what happens.

I can't sit in a chair and tie my shoes either. My 'work around' is sitting on the bed. There I can get my leg bent and my socks and shoes on. Might not be pretty, but it gets the job done.
 
No worries about a rant. I'd venture to guess we've all been there. I'm glad you've got an appointment. Make sure to let us know what happens.

I can't sit in a chair and tie my shoes either. My 'work around' is sitting on the bed. There I can get my leg bent and my socks and shoes on. Might not be pretty, but it gets the job done.
They tell you there is a percentage of getting an infection what they don't tell you is the devastating effect this can have.
I will be so glad when I can drive again been 14 months now.
I have had to S O R N my Land Rover and may have to get an automatic.
 
Not been on here for a while so thought I would do an update.

Nothing much has changed no improvement on my R O M on a good day I might just manage 70 degrees but when I walk my knee stiffness gets worse and is giving me bad lower back pain.

This has certainly been the worse decision of my life its so depressing.
I just managed to strim the grass only a small Area and had to stop.
I see my consultant on the 8th September I have no trust in him at all.
My life has become devastated since this operation and I can't see a way forward.
Sorry for the rant.
 
:prayer: :prayer: I was hoping that since we hadn't heard from you that you were doing well. I will continue to pray for you.
 
It surely is hard to understand how things can go this way especially after a successful knee replacement in the past.

Since you have no trust in your current surgeon is there any way you could see someone else for a second opinion?
 

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