ElanorG
post-grad
United StatesDebbie_joints
Once your knee/hip incision is totally healed you are OK. Unless you have a compromised immune system, you do not have to worry about the bacteria that might enter at a scratch or a hangnail. Typically a healthy person's immune system will handle things like that. But if you do have a cut that develops an infection you should see to it immediately and get on antibiotics if necessary; but at the least wash it in very hot soapy water and use some betadine on it and keep it clean and dry. Normally, some prevention is all you need. For instance, I wash my hands very well and often. When I get out of the pool or whirlpool I wash my TKR leg when I am in the shower well with soap and water. At my last OS appt. he told me he wanted me to wash the incision twice a day, so I do that morning and evening and if I do touch it during the day I make sure I wash my hands well first. We are good at fighting off bacteria in general but when our TKR is still fresh some extra TLC is a good idea with the wound and bacteria but that is just for a couple of months max. After that just really good hygiene is fine.
Once your knee/hip incision is totally healed you are OK. Unless you have a compromised immune system, you do not have to worry about the bacteria that might enter at a scratch or a hangnail. Typically a healthy person's immune system will handle things like that. But if you do have a cut that develops an infection you should see to it immediately and get on antibiotics if necessary; but at the least wash it in very hot soapy water and use some betadine on it and keep it clean and dry. Normally, some prevention is all you need. For instance, I wash my hands very well and often. When I get out of the pool or whirlpool I wash my TKR leg when I am in the shower well with soap and water. At my last OS appt. he told me he wanted me to wash the incision twice a day, so I do that morning and evening and if I do touch it during the day I make sure I wash my hands well first. We are good at fighting off bacteria in general but when our TKR is still fresh some extra TLC is a good idea with the wound and bacteria but that is just for a couple of months max. After that just really good hygiene is fine.
Having to compromise other parts of our bodies to heal doesn't make much sense, does it? May I suggest wearing a protective band/brace on your better knee, just something to stabilize it a bit. This is what I do and it helps. This morning, as it is morning here, I am going to the hospital to get more pain meds and to " hopefully" have my left hip looked at. Here in Canada, we seem to have a shortage of general practitioners, so we have to go to these Walk In clinics, which quite often don't prescribe anything more than an aspirin. I had to give up my physician when we moved...so much for a non flawed health care system. So then we end up going to the hospital for more serious issues. I will be thinking of you..get some rest today, we do get those off days.
:rolleyes:
