12 weeks have a rash.

Thank you. I see the surgeon on 8th March but I will make an appointment with my doctor and try to hurry it along.

Thanks for your reply Lesa. Also thanks for saying what you used yourself. Im using canesten ot the mo. Sometimes I think the rash looks like clearing and others i dont. I have no other problems apart from clicking and clunking. Its not itchy really. Anyway,If its not related to the surgery being wrong Im not TOO concerned. I cant get in to see my doctor for a fortnight so will wait until the 8th to see the surgeon. And he will be giving me more of his time on that occasion.

Sorry Lesa,didnt answer your question. Only one knee,the right.

Thanks Sue. Yes it IS too much of a coincidence. When we think about it theres been a lot of trauma done to a replaced knee so I guess that could well have something to do with it. Im not surprised he was sheepish. I know mine wont be. But I cant wait for the 8th because I will have a number of questions for him and i hope he has the xrays with him. Im going for that a week before and will ask jhim to explain it. I will also ask if there are any tests he can do on the rash if its still there to rule out it being caused by the surgery. May sound a bit contradictory that but i know what i mean. 

Thanks.

I had the op on the 18th November Sueisobel. Yes i remember that stuff. Id got it all over my toes and a visitor asked me what it was. I said it was a remnant from the nail polish i used on the night before the op. Said I had to go out looking my best on my last night of freedom. He didnt see the humour in it. The dressings they put on never actually stayed on for long,but I made them change them. Which they did grudgingly. I would definitely not reccomend the place i went for the operation. The place I went to for rehab, 3 miles down the road was marvellous.

Some people, when they go into a hospital, lose all sense of humour. Perhaps when visitors to use the antiseptic gel they make them use, rubs away their ability to laugh. But then again, the very thought of you wearing brown yukky nail varnish turned his stomach and was scared that if he laughed he would up chuck. Humour, or the lack of aside.  If they were changing the dressing more than necessary it might have irritated your skin.  If you have a decent chemist near you pop in and speak the the pharmacist, (Canesten is an antifungal cream by the way, very strange). Or try and get past the Receptionist and see your GP.  At this stage they should still be willing to see you and check your progress.

Thanks Sueisobel. I think I WILL see the pharmacist. Wont be able to see a GP under 2 weeks. If the consultant rules out infection in the knee I will go and see a skin specialist I think. Ive been thinking the worst and wondering if  theres something wrong inside,but logically Im trying to rule it out. Also in a couple of days I may go to the doctors and tell them i think its urgent. I am almost sure the consultant will try to fob me off at which point i will tell him i am reporting him and I WILL follow it through. Then I will privately see one of his colleagues for a 2nd opinion if i can. I pay medical insurance which will pay two thirds of the initial consultation fee.

I am fully expecting the guy who did the op to be rude. But the consultation will be my chance to stamnd my ground.

I can understand your frustration. The worst that can happen is your body rejecting the inplant; in which case you will be in agony, but no rash.  From a non medical point of view (mine) sounds like you just need a steroid cream as the rash sounds more like an allergic reaction to something that has touched your skin,  if you are scratching at it, it might inflame the area more.  Is your scar healing properly or weeping, can you bend/straighten your knee (no matter the range), is the rash weeping or just plain itchy, have you ever had anything like it before anywhere else.  (have you tried things like witch hazel, calamine lotion, household starch (sounds weird I know, but if it can calm the itchiness of shingles...)). The operation is a huge thing and not to be taken lightly, it affects every person differently, some sail through, some take longer and some do not work (mine for one), but saying that, try not to let your mind go off in tangents as it will disable your coping mechanism with regard to the actual healing.  Your other alternative is to ring the nurse who prescribed the canestan and tell her it didn't work.  Sometimes they just go down a list ticking boxes.  As far as they are concerned the cream worked, if you don't tell them otherwise it will go on your record as "tried that, it worked as the patient didn't say otherwise" so to speak. If that doesn't work, go to your nearest NHS walk-in  (or A&E outside their busy times, if they ever have such a thing), but you know what I mean. But for quickness go to the chemist, there are brands on sale that the pharmacist can suggest (cant say the names on here as this whole dialogue will be deleted) that target rashes caused by all sorts of things, if nothing else they may be able to put your mind at rest.

Thanks Sueisobel. Non Im having no pain so if thats normal with rejections thats put my mind at rest somewhat. There is no itching of the actual rash area but I have had SOME itching on both legs,though Ive only had one done. I think youre right about my mind goind off at tangents. The rash isnt as bad quite as before,so I will continue with the canesten until Monday,then decide whether to see the pharmacist. Thanks ever so much for your help.

John.

You are most welcome (think females have more use for the canesten though ;-) )

Well Sueisobel it says in the leaflet its for things like athletes foot and the rash doesnt look unlike that,apart from thrush of course. I think i might be turning the corner with the rash,unless its wishful thinking to combat the panic!!