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Knee Infection* The girl with the two fake knees

Emotional up and downs are just as normal as physical ups and downs. These two surgeries are now behind you! There are many of us that have to have the other knee done and are dreading it. You have already had it done and the worse is behind you now! What a blessing that is! Each day will be getting a little bit better for you. You will probably not notice it until a week or so has gone by, but you are improving. Keep an eye on that opened place. It sounds like you're doing the right thing. Your swelling it probably keeping it opened.
 
Jen, I think having the TKRs done one after the other is just as difficult as a bilateral emotionally. You were just getting a taste of normalcy and now you're back to the sick bed. I'm glad Josie helps to lift your spirits a bit. Because I had the infection and 2nd surgery I understand how you feel. I got excited about watching Hallmark Christmas movies after the 2nd surgery. Hopefully tomorrow won't be too blue of a day.
 
Hey jen, I follow your thread and read your updates to keep my self motivated! I know the depression too, it got to me after awhile. It is a slow recovery, I keep thinking I should be doing and feeling better, then I remember I am only two months out from some very major stuff!! Everyone tells me I am doing very good, but I don't always feel that way! However, I did walk my dogs outside today around our trail in the field, it was snowing lovely big flakes and there was no wind so it was great!! I was slower than I would like to be but did not have much pain at all. I walk with my trekking pole to steady me!! Then I went to Walmart with hubby and walked around the store but when I got done, yikes stiff in the backs of my knees like crazy!!! Now here I sit with my ice pack, wishing I could get up and do some housework but know it will have to wait...!
The bad thing like Karri said for you is you just started getting better to the point of being normal and now you are back to square one. That would depress just about anybody I think!! But hang in there girl....you hav no where to go now but up!!!
 
Oh yes, I agree with the others that you are doing well! And boy, can I relate about being better then overdoing. I still do it to this day! But, as you will find, the recovery time comes quicker as you heal more. You have already been through your surgeries. Many of us are still having to have another one. Your pain will diminish unlike ours that are waiting for the next terrible surgery. The best it ahead of you! When you get depressed just remember that the best is coming and not behind you.
 
You ladies are so great and make me feel so much better! I just have to stop and think that tomorrow is only 2 weeks out for me, so I need to be kinder to myself. Left knee is doing well still and I feel confident depending on it. Right knee is coming along. The swelling is better, but it's still there for sure. Nursing is coming tomorrow so I'll have her give me more steri-strips and look at the incision, but NOT touch...ever again! Part of it looks great though. I'm working to bend and extend it, plus a few other easy exercises. It feels a little more sore today, but I think it's the weather? My major issue is still incontinence, but it's not as bad. How embarrassing at 39!!! Once I can get there quicker, it won't be a problem.

Oh, and I literally slept 20 hours yesterday! I didn't even change out of my jammies. I guess I needed it. I was feeling pretty loopy and out of it so I doubt there was much else I COULD have done!!!

Hope you have a wonderful evening!!! I'll be up and hopefully finishing a book.

Jen
 
Sleeping that much does make you feel loopy and out of it, but it seems your body needed it. Remember, look at this in weeks. Think back to where you were two weeks ago and now today. Slow and steady wins the race.
 
Hi Jen,
I recently advised someone else who has problems with not making it to the bathroom in time. This is what I said:
This problem has happened to several people and it will go away, given time. It's not as unusual as you might think.
For now:
  • Don't wait too long. Start heading for the bathroom before you are desperate.
  • Try doing bathroom trips according to a timed schedule (say every 90 minutes, or thereabouts) until control returns.
  • Have you considered wearing a pad, or Depends, until things settle down? At least, that would save a bit of washing.
:friends:
 
I wore a minipad for the first few weeks or so until I was able to move quicker. Also, whenever I was up I went to the bathroom whether I had to or not. This helped me from having too many booboos.
 
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I have started to go to the bathroom in a schedule and it's working really well so far!! My biggest problem is when I first wake up and have to go. I hope it is temporary. I have a hx of UTIs and kidney stones. I had to have a stent placed in 2003 after kidney stone removal surgery. Ever since then, my bladder control hasn't been as good, but nothing like this.

Thanks for the much needed input!!

Jen
 
Just gone done with therapy and my nursing appointment. I felt so popular!!! I still have a little bit of an open area on my incision, like on the meaty part above the knee cap. She cleaned it and put new steri-strips on it. I'll cover with gauze and keep an eye on the drainage. The strips come off every day because the wound is oozing enough to make them fall off. She said she would call my doctor too, possibly for antibiotics.

I was measured at 92/5 which makes me very happy!! I still have a ton of swelling, so I won't improve much until it's gone. I can now lift my leg up and on the bed without the leg lifter! I also did the peddler for a minute and I can go all the way around when I sit further back from it. Both my therapist and I are happy with my progress. Left knee is doing great. Both are pretty sore today, but I'm blaming it on the weather and a fibro flare.

Baby knee 2 is 2 weeks old today! Toddler knee is 12 weeks, 5 days. Still the best decisions I've ever made.

Jen
 
Wow! 92 is great! Shows what just what BS philosophy can do with your patience added!
 
Be careful with that opened spot. @zzevi had a spot that was opened and because of working it at PT and then at work, it just wouldn't close and then became infected. She's fine now. But, do be extra careful and make sure you don't stretch it.
 
I suspect that the open area will have to heal from the sides and will take a bit longer. The steristrips probably won't do much good. I had an area like that on my 5-year old knee. My thigh was so swollen in hospital that it opened up for about 3 inches and had to be re-sutured. It continued to ooze for a while and it healed slower than the rest of the incision. The scar there is now a little wider than the rest. It's not ugly, though.

While my incision was still oozing, i kept that part of it covered with a sterile dressing, to protect it. The nurse changed the dressing daily for a few days.
 
Jen, sounds like you are doing great. 92/5 is fabulous for just two weeks out. My right is only 111/6 at 10 weeks!!
I too had trouble with incontinence since surgery. I blame some of it on all the drugs, including pain and muscle relaxers. A schedule will help, and I used pads as someone else suggested. It is getting much better for me so hang in there, it will get better for you. Be careful with your incision, make sure your surgeon is aware of any changes. I don't share you enthusiasm for the winter, but did have some nice winter walks with my dogs around the field this weekend...but if the truth were told, I would rather skip the snow and cold!!!
Hang in there...your doing just fine!!
Blessings,
Lene'
 
@ACDCJen Yes, please do be careful, from what little I read about your open area, it sounds a lot like mine. From the time the staples were removed on, I had some issues. I had a area on the inside of my knee area where a drain was in at surgery and I believe it was removed to soon, still was having a lot of drainage, which kind of cause a lump of fluid under the skin this put pressure I believe on my incision area, I think with p/t and all the stretching and bending it continued to pull on that area. I tried to pull it together using butterfly strips, I would clean it daily with perioxide and it just got like the edges of my skin at the incision had healed off, but the center stayed open. I had a slight odor to my incision towards the end. I brought it up to the surgeon and there didn't seem to be any concern, p/t did alot of cleaning and wound care for me, but still didn't overly ? my issues till late on, when my wound seemed to be growing in size instead of getting smaller and healing. All this messing around cost me over a month in recovery set back, p/t was stopped right away after my care being transferred over to a wound care clinic, I was ordered no p/t and ended up with a wound vac on for about a month. This consisted of going to the hospital 3x's a wk for dressing changes. Also 10 days of antibotics as by the time everything got sorted out I had gotten infection in the incision. All of this because no one took much interest in the beginning to my incision that wouldn't heal. It was costly for my insurance and I will also have some out of pocket expenses as the wound care clinic was out of my network of service. I down played my whole issue in the beginning also, friends and relatives when they seen my knee questioned it's healing, I said the surgeon knows and we have it under control, little did I know I needed to speak up sooner. After healing shut I was offered the chance to go back to p/t and I declined, I also will be looking for a new surgeon for follow up visits.
 
@zzevi, I'm glad you were able to give @ACDCJen your personal experience. I was hoping you were still around here. I was really worried about you and now I'm concerned about Jen. @ACDCJen, you have many caring people on here that will keep you in their prayers and good thoughts.
 
@sistersinhim yes, I am still around. Check the postings almost daily. Can't give up checking in as of yet, as I don't consider myself a 100% recovered, still looking to others for advice and guidance. And of course I can't help but chime in if I think I can help someone else.
 
I'm definitely concerned, even though it doesn't seem to be getting any bigger for now. I'll talk to my visiting nurse on Thursday to see if there is more I should be doing. She did say that the doctor may prescribe antibiotics, so I'll push that if need be. I do have to replace the steri-strips daily because the drainage makes them wet and fall off. I put a clean, thick gauze pad over the strips and tape it down with waterproof tape. It works well to keep it from draining all over the place. When it does drain, it is watery blood. There is no smell/odor at this time. Thankfully, the rest of my scar is either completely closed or crusty and looks great! I'll post a picture tomorrow if I remember. Thank you for the suggestions and words of caution. I don't want to have any setbacks because of lack of concern for my incision. I'll keep everyone posted.

I'm just having such a restless evening so far. You know, those times when you just can't get comfortable in any of the two positions you can get into? Hopefully, my pain pill will kick in soon and make me too loopy to stay awake!!!

It has been 1.5 days since the last accident!!

Nighty night!
Jen
 
Stay on top of the incision and ask the nurse any and all questions. I'm glad it's been a while since an accid not occurred. It takes so much energy to get cleaned up. It seems the schedule is working. Hope you got some sleep.
 
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