Knee Infection* Revision w/antibiotic spacer

[CherApril]

Husband had both knees replaced Feb 2nd 2021
Pain/swelling May 3rd in left knee only
Calls to doc said ice and ibuprofen for 1 month
June office visit — aspiration detected infection
June 28 - operation temporary spacer put in
& pic line (to administer antibiotics at home for 6 weeks)
Pic line comes out Aug 9 but oral antibiotic continue
3rd surgery scheduled for Sept 27th as long as infection is gone
I feel your pain jsa

 

[CherApril]

Feb 2 husband had both knees replaced
May 3rd swelling of left knee & pain
Calls to doc saying ice and ibuprofen
June office visit aspiration showed infection
June 28 hardware removed spacer put in
& pic line in arm (6 weeks at home antibiotic)
Aug 9 pic line comes out continue oral antibiotics
Sept 27 scheduled surgery for a different type of knee replacement as long as no infection!
He was suppose to retire July 6th! Delayed until this mess is finished!

 

[Jockette]

Hi and Welcome!

I’m so sorry to hear of the complications your husband has encountered. However, they are doing the right things to help him. If he does not have an infectious disease doctor on his team, I highly recommend you get one.

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.​

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.​

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

​

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.

 

[Jockette]

Here is a list of some of our other members who have had infections:

Knee Surgery Recovery Area

For post-operative knee patients, on the "other side"

bonesmart.org

 

[jsa]

hi @CherApril ... sorry hubby is having a hard time. When things go wrong we often feel very alone but as you can see, there are many of us here that don't necessarily follow the normal post op pattern. It's always nice to be able to talk to someone going through the same thing as he is so you are able to help him. Shame the aspirate grew but in a way it was good news because at least you know what you are dealing with and they know what antibiotics his infection is sensitive to. Was his infection in the knee joint or elsewhere? Was there any obvious reason like the wound broke down?
I just hope that by the time you have rewatched all your favourite movies with him he will be better and ready for the 3rd surgery.
Do you work?

 

[CherApril]

Infection in knee, no one can tell us where it came from! The antibiotics thru pic line will be done in 3 weeks, but oral antibiotics will continue anywhere from 6 months to a year! Yes, I have a part time job.

 

[Celle]

@CherApril - I've moved a couple of your posts from jsa's thread because they about your husband's knee infection.

Please continue to update about his progress on this thread.
Thank you.

 

[jsa]

Infection in knee, no one can tell us where it came from! The antibiotics thru pic line will be done in 3 weeks, but oral antibiotics will continue anywhere from 6 months to a year! Yes, I have a part time job.

Unless there is something obvious, it's often hard to pinpoint where exactly these infections come from. Your doc might be able to answer that one if he knows.

Hubby will be glad when it's over, just let him know that others have been where he is and we do survive it, it's just a bit tedious and overwhelming at the time. There will be up and down days. It won't be easy and some days you will think he is ungrateful for your sacrifices but in my experience we patients are usually just frustrated - its hard to be upbeat all the time. Tell him to remember that everyday is a step closer to that 2nd stage!