TKR New redness after TKR

[tkr2022]

I had a TKR on my right leg on Oct 4, 2022. I had bruising after the surgery. The bruising and redness completely went away by the time I got my staples removed 8 days later.

For the last 2 days though, my shin (starting from about 1 inch below the incision) has been itching beyond bearable. It's turned very red now as well, I've marked the area to monitor if the redness inceases.

My range of motion and PT have been normal. I don't have any fever, chills, or pain. But since the redness is new, I am concerned and worried that this could be the start of an infection.

 

[Jockette]

Hi and Welcome!

Please call your surgeon and ask for an appointment to check this out. It might be an allergic reaction to something.

I will leave you our Recovery Guidelines. Each article is short but very informative. Following these guidelines will help you have a less painful recovery.

Just keep in mind all people are different, as are the approaches to this recovery and rehab. The key is, “Find what works for you.“ Your doctors, PTs and BoneSmart are available to help, but you are the final judge as to the recovery approach you choose.

Knee Recovery: The Guidelines
1. Don’t worry: Your body will heal all by itself. Relax, let it, don't try and hurry it, don’t worry about any symptoms now, they are almost certainly temporary

2. Control discomfort:

rest​

elevate​

ice​

take your pain meds by prescription schedule (not when pain starts!)​

don't overwork.​

​

If you want to use something to help heal the incision, ​

BoneSmart recommends hypochlorous solution. Members in the US can purchase ACTIVE Antimicrobial Hydrogel through BoneSmart at a discount. Similar products should be available in the UK and other countries.​

3. Do what you want to do BUT

​

a. If it hurts, don't do it and don't allow anyone - especially a physical therapist - to do it to you​

b. If your leg swells more or gets stiffer in the 24 hours after doing it, don't do it again.​

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4. PT or exercise can be useful BUT take note of these

​

the BoneSmart view on exercise​

BoneSmart philosophy for sensible post op therapy​

5. At week 4 and after you should follow this

Activity Progression for TKRs​

6. Access to these pages on the website

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Oral And Intravenous Pain Medications​

Wound Closure​

The Recovery articles:
The importance of managing pain after a TKR and the pain chart
Swollen and stiff knee: what causes it?
Energy drain for TKRs
Elevation is the key
Ice to control pain and swelling
Heel slides and how to do them properly
Chart representation of TKR recovery
Healing: how long does it take?

Post op blues is a reality - be prepared for it
Sleep deprivation is pretty much inevitable - but what causes it?

There are also some cautionary articles here
Myth busting: no pain, no gain
Myth busting: the "window of opportunity" in TKR
Myth busting: on getting addicted to pain meds

We try to keep the forum a positive and safe place for our members to talk about their questions or concerns and to report successes with their joint replacement surgery.

While members may create as many threads as they like in the majority of BoneSmart’s forums, we ask that each member have only One Recovery Thread. This policy makes it easier to go back and review the member’s history before providing advice, so please post any updates or questions you have right here in this thread.

 

[Flashlight]

Can you ask if you can send a picture using your cell phone to your doctor or PA? Could it be a rash since you don't have any other symptom other than itching?

 

[tkr2022]

I just sent a picture to my OS. He was stumped by it, didn’t think it was an infection since I have good range of motion and no pain. He thought it’s possibly an allergic reaction to one of the medicines or the compression socks I was wearing. I’m told to monitor and send him a picture daily.

 

[tkr2022]

The rash has gotten more red today but hasn’t spread any further. Updated photo attached.

 

[NightQuilter]

I'm glad your doctor wants to monitor it daily. It does not seem to have spread overnight, which is also good. You might ask your OS about taking an antihistamine if the tremendous itching continues. Is the area warm or hot to the touch? Perhaps some ice there, as well as on the knee?

 

[tkr2022]

Yeah, I’m glad they’re very reachable and it hasn’t spread. I’ve been taking Benadryl which is helping with the itching and also icing. The area is warm to touch compared to other part of the leg. Thanks for everyone’s response.

 

[LaJudes]

l had a similar red patch in the same spot just below my knee. Turned out after a year of treatment that the joint was very infected and the area below my knee came from that infection . lt seems the infection in the joint made a track down to below my knee and came out there as cellulitis and later a small sore appeared , goes away and comes back again . Finally they sent me to a revision specialist and the whole knee replacement was removed the next day . lt was a long haul back to health and walking again . The thing was that l could walk ok , it didn't hurt anymore than the knee had since the original TKR in 2018 . lt never felt like the awful mess it turned into . Please watch that redness on the leg .

 

[Flashlight]

Have you been seen by your GP? I would use your GP as a second opinion. He/She might send you for a CT scan or another doctor to have it checked out. Or order labs to check for infection.

 

[Layla]

Hello at this milestone of two months post op. I hope its a happy anniversary for you and you're enjoying steady progress. How are you doing since you last posted? I hope well. Please leave an update next time you're on the forum, we'd love to hear from you. Until then...all the best!
@tkr2022