Surgery went great!
The first day after surgery was actually less painful than the day before surgery!!
Was initially on a pain pump but begged to have my Perc’s back which was granted the day after surgery.
Everything was pretty good and I was so very happy with the result. I came home on Sunday 23rd.
Started my PT at our local hospital on the Monday. I go for one hour twice daily Mon – Fri.
All was just wonderful until yesterday. When I checked in for my blood thinner shot the nurse noticed my dressing appeared soaked through with blood. She changed the dressing but before I could get down the hall to PT the dressing was once more full of this bloody discharge. I went on with my one hour on the CPM before going back to emerg. They checked my blood thickness which was fine so they paged the on-call doctor. The discharge is a combination of some clearish fluid and blood so to be on the safe side he has put me on antibiotics for seven days and is hoping this discharge will stop.
Today it is still running like crazy every time my knee is flexed. I asked to stop the blood thinner injections (it’s only three days early) and I am not doing CPM again until Monday.
They will not aspirate the fluid except as a last resort (before removing knee) as they are so concerned about introducing more bacteria. They have ended the blood thinner however, this morning when they were changing the dressing they found a thick, greenish, yellow discharge at the very top of the incision and a slight reddening around a portion of the knee, the nurse traced the area with pen (so much for sterility) so we can see if it spreads. I am, once again, very worried. I am going to our community hospital every day for a dressing change and I know they will be on the alert for any further complications but I’m still pretty concerned.
Has anyone had a problem similar to this?
I would like them to contact the OS on Monday unless there is marked improvement, do you feel that is reasonable or am I overreacting?
I just don’t understand. I always heal quickly and have never had any problem with infection! Walking is a joy, compared to what it was, even the pain, other than during PT is less than before – so what the heck is going on???
Diane
The first day after surgery was actually less painful than the day before surgery!!
Was initially on a pain pump but begged to have my Perc’s back which was granted the day after surgery.
Everything was pretty good and I was so very happy with the result. I came home on Sunday 23rd.
Started my PT at our local hospital on the Monday. I go for one hour twice daily Mon – Fri.
All was just wonderful until yesterday. When I checked in for my blood thinner shot the nurse noticed my dressing appeared soaked through with blood. She changed the dressing but before I could get down the hall to PT the dressing was once more full of this bloody discharge. I went on with my one hour on the CPM before going back to emerg. They checked my blood thickness which was fine so they paged the on-call doctor. The discharge is a combination of some clearish fluid and blood so to be on the safe side he has put me on antibiotics for seven days and is hoping this discharge will stop.
Today it is still running like crazy every time my knee is flexed. I asked to stop the blood thinner injections (it’s only three days early) and I am not doing CPM again until Monday.
They will not aspirate the fluid except as a last resort (before removing knee) as they are so concerned about introducing more bacteria. They have ended the blood thinner however, this morning when they were changing the dressing they found a thick, greenish, yellow discharge at the very top of the incision and a slight reddening around a portion of the knee, the nurse traced the area with pen (so much for sterility) so we can see if it spreads. I am, once again, very worried. I am going to our community hospital every day for a dressing change and I know they will be on the alert for any further complications but I’m still pretty concerned.
Has anyone had a problem similar to this?
I would like them to contact the OS on Monday unless there is marked improvement, do you feel that is reasonable or am I overreacting?
I just don’t understand. I always heal quickly and have never had any problem with infection! Walking is a joy, compared to what it was, even the pain, other than during PT is less than before – so what the heck is going on???
Diane