My time bomb exploded!

[Coppernob]

Hi lovely people. Sorry not to have been able to sign in here for a while but I've been back in hospital. After passing out on the kitchen floor I was admitted on Sunday 26 April , the infection in my left knee having returned with a vengeance. (CRP was 160 having been down to 8 when I was seen in clinic 10 days previously!) The next day I had an emergency arthroscopic washout and then on Friday 1 May I had the TKR removed and cement spacers put in.

When I saw the lovely Mr T post-op he said he'd never seen infection like it before - it had gone right up into my thigh and he had to go in with his arm to get it all out. (I keep thinking of the scene in All Creatures Great and Small of the vet trying to deliver a calf!!!)

The first couple of days post-op were hell - I've never known pain like it when the physios were trying to get me out of bed and into a chair. It then transpired that I should have had a knee brace on! Since that's been fitted it's been marginally more comfortable.

Anyway, 3 units of blood, 2 weeks of iv antibiotics, 64 staples, and a whole lot of blood, sweat and tears later, I'm home. I'm on crutches or in a wheel chair and back on the dreaded antibiotics and weekly blood tests for 6-12 weeks before going back in to have another whole new knee joint put in.

Life's a challenge at the moment, finding out what I can and can't do with a rigid leg. It's just amazing how much you take for granted. It all feels like a long haul but there must be light at the end of the tunnel eventually. It's good to be able to be back on here. Linda x

 

[Gringo]

Wow, that sounds really intense. Do you know what caused the infection? Were there warning signs?

Will you eventually have a workable knee after all this?

 

[Texas]

Linda I am so so sorry. That is terrible. Did you have any other signs of infection. red swelling? Im sorry when did you have surgery on that knee? There is a light at the end of the tunnel, there has to be in this situation. You have really been thru alot, and you did make it , shows me a very strong lady. Hang in there and goodness try to keep the pain away. You are definatly in my prayers...again I am so sorry for what you have been thru..........I hope a speedy recovery for you....Please keep posting let us know how you are doing..........Kim

 

[Josephine]

Oh Linda - I am so, so sorry. That's just horrid. I can see we're going to have to start a praying circle for you. I can't believe how 'up' you sound despite it all. God bless you.

 

[lakelover]

Oh my goodness...My prayers are with you. I can't imagine going thru that.

 

[Peta]

Linda you poor thing! I can't believe what you have gone through! And after all that you have to go back to have it all done again!!!! :(
All I can offer is my sympathy and support..........!

 

[Judles]

Oh Linda.....to say you've been thru the ringer would truly be an understatement! I'm sending my prayers your way! I hope every day will make you stronger both mentally and physically!

 

[aussie]

Sorry to hear it's been tough for you Linda but you have an amazing 'get on with it' attitude, we can all learn from that.

Best wishes to you,

 

[loggon]

Wow you have been through so much. I will say a prayer for you.

Jo think a prayer circle would be a good thread. As we all read the
the thread it would be a lot of prayers going out for all the good folks here.

 

[stives]

You poor thing. You have had such a rough time with all this. We're all holding you in our thoughts and prayers.

Let's hope the future will bring total healing. In the meantime keep posting so that we can hear how you are getting on.

Love and hugs!

 

[Jamie]

Linda, God bless you and God bless that wonderful surgeon you have looking after you through this ordeal. You have had more than your share but still maintain the most positive attitude. You are an inspiration to me and I'm sure to others here. Rest, take care of yourself, and hopefully this time things will go the way they should. I'll be praying for you and your doctors to see this through to a GOOD result.

 

[JudyS]

Dear Linda
I am praying for pain relief for you and finally resolving this darn infection. You have a great attitude. Good healing
judy

 

[GaryM]

Linda you got wild on us didn't ya girl? Wow! I'll be thinking and praying for ya. Please keep us posted.

 

[Judles]

That's the LAST kind of "wild" poor Linda ever needed! How are ya feeling today, Linda???

 

[ship4]

Linda,
So sorry to hear things have not gone well for you. Know if you plod along one day at a time and do what you are supposed to do, the replacement surgery will be here. Then it will be what you already know, but hopefully without the infection. I am praying they got every last little bit, as we do not want a re-occurrence of this for you!
I am sure you will keep us posted on your progress.
Best,

 

[Nancyo]

Linda, you are in my thought and prayers today and always. I pray for the best outcome possible and I pray for the skill and ability of your doctors. You have really been through the mill an it's so difficult and just plain scary. Please try and keep a positive attitude and let us know what ever we can do help you. We're always here for you so let us know what's going on. We care!
Blessings~~
Nancyo

 

[tooyoungforthis]

Linda, So Sorry about what you been through my prayers are with you.
Take Care,Hugs
Peggy

 

[Texas]

I was taken back when I read your other threads, you have really been thru the ringer. You must be an extremely strong person to go thru all you have been thru. I sure hope things get better real soon, your in my prayers as well..............Kim

 

[Coppernob]

Thank you all so much for your encouragement and especially your prayers. I'm finding it really difficult to pray at the moment so am relying on others to do it for me! I know loads of people are praying and I'm feeling very upheld.

Most of the history leading up to this latest episode can be found on my thread 'The saga continues', but to answer a couple of the questions people have asked, I hadn't actually been feeling that bad leading up to the Sunday. My knee had been hurting a bit more than of late and I had some pain in my thigh but I put it down to having been at physiotherapy the previous Wednesday for my first session since the February surgery. By the time I got into hospital my temperature had shot up and stayed high for a few days, but, given the extent of the infection, the doctors were all surprised that I hadn't felt worse than I did.

The thing I'm finding hardest is the complete lack of energy and the length of time it takes to do anything. I guess all my energy is going into fighting the infection and so there's not a lot left for anything else. Getting up, washed, dressed and downstairs in the morning can take about an hour and a half and I'm exhausted at the end of it. I've now started going up and down stairs on my bottom rather than using crutches as I found that took far too much out of me. Not very elegant, but effective! I don't supppose the hospital physios would be best pleased with me but I've decided I've got to do things in ways that are easiest for me.

The District Nurse is due to come in tomorrow to check my wound and to take more blood, then I go back to hospital outpatients on Thursday so hopefully the CRP result will be there then. The last one was still at 60 so there was still a way to go to get below 10.

I can't thank you enough for being there. This is the best support group ever! Linda x

 

[Texas]

Linda I did read all the threads and almost cried. That is alot to go thru, so no wonder your are tired. Try to rest when ever your body is telling you to. Once this is over, and it will be you can do all the things you want but right now its about getting better thats its. I hope things go GREAT for you tomorrow and they give you good results. Hang in there. Gotta go up from here !!!!!!!!!!! Feel better soon, you are always in my prayers.......Kim