If I knew what I know now!!

I had my first knee replacement February 2014. Things went well for 1 1/2 weeks.... PT like a champ, bending , straightening. Then pain: hideous pain that Percocet didn't touch. Horrible pain after PT. Saw the doc for a routine f/u. The knee was hot and could not be touched. "It's a painful surgery Jeanne" he said. I wondered what was wrong with me that I couldn't tell do it. Went back at 6 weeks....told doc pain was worse, not better. "It's a painful surgery Jeanne"...... I cried and grew depressed because I was a wimpy loser. Then my wound broke open and started draining.....no worries, doc said. You reacted to the glue...."why not at the rest of the incision?" I said. I've seen this before, my pompous surgeon replied. I debridided like he said.....got the wound closed. "But it hurts so much, I think it's infected" I said......"it's difficult to diagnose an infection" he said. I puked, I couldn't eat or sleep, 'y hair fell out, my eyelashes fell out. One day I could not put ANYweight on my leg....went to the ER. This is INFECTED, they said. Took the joint out and placed me in an immobilizer for 4 months with a PICC line for IV antibiotics. Then started all over with a new knee in August, 2014. Recovery all over again, neuropathy, PTSD anorexia and weakness. My other knee? It's now ruined but it will be a cold day in hell before I do it again.

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