Knee Infection* The girl with the two fake knees

[sistersinhim]

Great on the bathroom successes! Let us know what the nurse says about your opened spot.

 

[newlybionic]

My PCP told me that the muscle relaxers can have a an effect on your bladder which can cause those accidents. I'm glad that following a schedule with bathroom breaks are helping. You are doing very well. Stay on top of any problems with your incision.

 

[ACDCJen]

I'm so glad they're better too! It helps to be in a schedule as it also gets me up more often and moving around.

Today has been a banner day! I had PT this morning and my flexion was......103°!!! I couldn't believe it!! My extension feels better too, but he didn't measure it. I was able to do everything today, including practicing getting up and out of my chair less painfully, with many pillows under me! Plus, my knee was less achy when I was done....not pain...I never have that, but just less notice that I'd worked it out. Yippee!!!!

I was finally able to get into my left side without hurting new baby knee!!! I took the best nap that way. My back appreciated it. I am not a back sleeper, so these past few weeks have been difficult. I doubled the number of positions I can be comfortable in to four...in my chair, sitting on the side of my bed, sitting up in bed with pillows, and on my side! Look out world, here I come!!

My nurse came today to look at my wound. It's definitely on the surface, thankfully. It seems to be draining a lot less, and there is no odor. I'm not using steri-strips any longer because it's too wide for them. I do cover with a gauze pad and tape, with periods of keeping it open when I'm watching tv or similar. The area around it is firmer than the rest of the incision and there are two noticeably harder areas in either side in the quad. I've been massaging them gently, but they are still there and even my light touch has caused some bruising. My nurse called my doctor to see if I can get in sooner than Jan 3rd just to check it out. I'm less worried, but I'm still concerned. Its definitely crustier though!!

I hope to get on my laptop soon to post pictures. I've just been off of it. I'm waiting for the big snow to hit us, but we are never lucky like Buffalo! Seems like I left the snow behind me when I moved from Illinois (where they get it now that I'm not there), and haven't gotten it in WNY!! Oh well!!!

Hope everyone is doing well!!!
Jen

 

[sistersinhim]

I hope you can get in sooner than January to see your OS. He needs to see you incision.

 

[ACDCJen]

Woke up feeling pretty good this morning! I got 5 solid hours of sleep and it did wonders for healing! I also took my shower in record time...in and out of the bathroom in 32 minutes! I felt like Speedy Gonzales!

Nothing new to report though...been a lazy day watching West World with Scott. That show is so good! Highly recommended.

I am posting two new pictures so you can see the wound that I keep talking about!

This one is the open area from 12.15.16 after the nurse left. It actually looked pretty good here and I was feeling hopeful! The hard bump that I can feel is of the left of this picture about halfway down the open area and out a few inches. Can't see it here.

This picture is from today. I've kept it covered unless I'm sitting and can keep clothes off of it. I took off the bandaid this morning to change it, and this is what it was. Looks much worse than it has been. So now I'm back to being more concerned. I can feel it a little more too, but it's tolerable. What do you think?

That's it for me for today. Hope everyone is doing well!

Jen

 

[Celle]

I think you need to show that to your surgeon. I think it's all superficial, but he does need to know.

 

[KarriB]

I'd have the surgeon look at it too. I'm just reminded of zzevi and how long it took hers to heal, but also all the worry she had with it because the OS wouldn't look at it. I think it's better to have him see it, then you can rest easier.

 

[Red's Mom]

Jen, I too love reading your posts. They are so spot on, honest and even raw at times. Your ability to express this experience is profound. I glad you have found a bit of sleep and a new position! Sleep itself can be healing. I'm actually relieved that I didn't read BoneSmart Forum preoperatively. I have cyclothemia and the idea or the possibility of being sleepless would've really worried me I guess I have been blessed that sleeping has not been an issue for me. I agree your surgeon should see the incision. Send him the photos if you can't get an appointment. I'm praying for you!


Sent from my iPad using broken link removed: https://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=75543

 

[newlybionic]

I agree with the others. I would have the OS take a look at your knee just to be on the safe side. I was also confused about his use of a wound vac post op. I had a drain into my knee removed the second day. Wound vacs in my experience have only been used when you have a wound that will not close by itself.

 

[ACDCJen]

Thank you for the input. I believe my nurse is coming on Monday, but I'll also call my OS and see what they say. It didn't look any better this morning and it was a bit more green. Good thing that's one of my favorite colors!!

So, with the wound vac...the reason I had it on my first TKR was because he was making the new incision over an old one that was keloid and full of scar tissue. The wound vac allowed for it to heal without stitches or staples and to preserve the integrity of the skin. For the second TKR, I asked for the wound vac because I had so much success with the first one. I assumed I wouldn't have stitches or staples in addition to the vac. My bad!! No wonder my OS was surprised I wanted one!!! It's also much easier to shower with the kind of vac I had since the wound was covered with waterproof tape. To be fair, 65% of my wound looks good. I think the staples came out too early on the now opened areas. As long as it's not infected (which I don't think it is), I can deal with it! I don't wear anything that show my legs anyway. Plus, I don't care about pretty scars!! Not like it's going to affect my modeling career or anything!!!

Sleep was somewhat better last night. Got to sleep around 430am and slept until noon!!! Felt so good to get sleep, but it was way too long in one position. Plus, my big fat Elsie kitty sleeps at my feet on the blanket, so I have to disentangle both my legs and the sheet I keep wrapped around my foot because she does not move!! She always gives me the hairy eyeball for disturbing her!! Punk! But I love her and all the changes in the last 22 months have been hard for her. She hates any type of change (even rearranged furniture) and my late husband was her person. So, I wake up to that almost every morning and it starts my day in a light-hearted manner.

I did manage to get most of my Christmas shopping done online, just waiting for packages to arrive. My friend Mara's birthday is 12.21. She is turning 40 and it's also the first since her twin Meg passed away. I'm still housebound and won't be able to see her, but I got her 40 gifts that reminded me of her or that I thought she would like in some way. I can't wait to see what she thinks about them all. Even though Meg isn't here, I still want to make sure to celebrate Mara because it's her day too.

Nothing else on the agenda today other than reading, watching football, Hoarders, and tacos for dinner!! Oh, and wishing for copious amounts of snow!

Have a great Sunday everyone!!

Jen

 

[Celle]

I believe my nurse is coming on Monday, but I'll also call my OS and see what they say. It didn't look any better this morning and it was a bit more green.

I really think you need to show your incision to your surgeon, Jen. It's all very well showing it to your nurse, but the ultimate responsibility is your surgeon's and he needs to be kept up with the play, especially as your wound appears not to be improving.
I would go to his rooms when you know he's going to be there and ask to see him for 5 minutes - but then I'm pushy like that!

 

[ACDCJen]

I saw my nurse today and she has been in contact with my OS. They told her that this was pretty common post-op. However, on Weds. I will start using Aquacel Silver treatment to help it heal. I don't know much about it and will have to do some research. I wonder if anyone on here has had it? I woke up this morning with a hole opened in the wound and more drainage. I called the OS triage line to keep them updated and told them I could send pictures of need be. So, there is some movement on this front.

Jen

 

[sistersinhim]

Yes, please email those photos to your doctor if you can't get in to see him.

 

[Celle]

Yes, Jen, email the photos to your surgeon. He probably has no idea what your leg actually looks like, as the nurse could have reported it as just "a small open area". It's his responsibility and he's getting the big bucks for overseeing your care, so make sure he's personally involved and not just getting information through a third party.

 

[KarriB]

Yep, send the photos and then if it was me, I'd hive him a call to see if he received and looked at the photos. I tend to be overbearing in that way.

I had a silverlon bandage for two weeks with both surgeries. They didn't come off for two weeks and weren't waterproof, but I haven't heard of Aquacel Silver.

 

[Celle]

I will start using Aquacel Silver treatment to help it heal. I don't know much about it and will have to do some research. I wonder if anyone on here has had it?

It's not a good idea to use anything on your incision that your surgeon has not ordered, Jen. For one thing, you could risk introducing infection. For another, should your surgeon require swabs to be taken, using something like Aquacel Silver might confuse the results.

 

[Pumpkin]

Aquacel Silver requires a prescription, the silver has an antimicrobial effect on wounds. Theoretically Aquacel Silver helps wounds heal.

 

[ACDCJen]

I canceled PT for today last night. It's a good thing I did because I am having an awfully painful day today. Most of it is because I ran out of Celebrex last night. Thankfully, I'll have my refill today. This happened after my last surgery too because it was prescribed for a short time around the surgery. I didn't realize how helpful it was until I didn't have it anymore, so I got the rx for it. It's not just my knees either, but my "good" ankle, shoulders, and right fingers. Oxycodone and Skelaxin, take me away!!!

I contacted my nurse today because of my wound. She is my go between for the doctor, so she is relaying information directly to them. I'm still waiting for them to call, but they did prescribe the Aquacel Silver. So, that's the best I can do for now. Anyway, I put steri-strips and a bandage on it last night. When I removed them before my shower today, the hole in the center of it had gotten bigger and it's starting to hurt just a bit more. So, I washed it and dried it and called the nurse. She came over and put regular Aquacel on it with the foam and plastic over-protector. She was supposed to do this tomorrow, but moved it up a day. She said that she had to "scrub" it before she put it on, so I was worried about that. Well, her version of scrubbing is wetting clean paper towels and dabbing the wound!!! No need to worry after all!! I will change it after I shower and I can wash my wound with soap and water and dry it before putting the new one on. I feel good about this direction for now.

I actually slept from 4am until 9am today!!! It's almost like I overslept compared to what I have been getting. I have a lot of wrapping to do today, so hopefully that's enough rest to tackle it all!!! I love giving gifts.

That's all for now. Such an exciting life I lead, huh? Depending on how I feel tomorrow and the weather conditions, I may venture out to see Mara for her 40th birthday. I got her 40 gifts and I'd love to see her reaction to them! But, we'll see. I still consider myself housebound and I get a bit anxious when I think of how tiring it will be just for this short trip, but I really miss seeing her. Gotta do it sometime, right?

Later taters,

Jen

 

[Celle]

I hope tomorrow is a better day, Jen.

 

[KarriB]

Hopefully having your meds back on schedule will help. I love giving gifts also! Even with mybinfection I managed to get the gifts I needed and wrap them. Right now my family room looks like Christmas threw up! Packages, presents, wrapping paper, boxes are everywhere! I had to stop before I was finished. Guess what I'm doing tonight!