Joint infection after cortisone injections . . . (not me thank heavens)
Posted , 7 users are following.
I found this article on internet, and I thought it was interesting . . Researchers have looked through large databases of Medicare patients who have undergone knee replacement surgery. They were able to compare patients who had a cortisone shot (or viscosupplement injection) prior to replacement, and if that individual had an infection after replacement. The data clearly demonstrated there was a higher chance of having an infection in people who had a shot before surgery.
Furthermore, the research found that the risk of infection after surgery was strongly correlated with how soon before surgery patients had their most recent shot. If the shot was within seven months of the time of surgery the risk of complication was significantly higher.
I have never heard this before, and I think it's probably quite likely that someone after having an unsuccessful cortison injection would decide to go on for the TKR . . .
1 like, 14 replies
Waffalobill martinarvelo
Posted
I been getting synvisc injections for over 10 years. The older doc I went to for years used to rub down the area with alcohol and do it. He retired. My new doc does things totally different. Whole knee gets wiped down with iodine. Doc and nurses use stearyl gloves. They are very careful even as to how they put the gloves on. I asked about these differences. They told me alcohol evaporates to fast. Leaving the field not stearyl anymore. Gloves are to prevent infection as well. Old doc never wore gloves. Wonder how many times I had a infection and didn't know.
martinarvelo Waffalobill
Posted
However, TKR infections often don't come from the wound but from another infection somewhere in the body, and it seems that the intrarticular injections make infections of that type more likely . .better to let 7 months go by to be on the safe side!
jan01779 martinarvelo
Posted
I was told that they would not do a TKR if had more than 3 intrarticular steroid injections within 2 years. Gues as it can soften bone.
Whats also interesting is that oral immunosuppressants are no longer thought to lead to poor surgical outcomes after joint repalcement.
martinarvelo jan01779
Posted
What worries me is that I was never told anything about any of this, and my surgeon did not really know what treatment I had had prior to his intervention, because it was in different hospitals, with no relationship between them. As it happens, I didn't have intrarticular injections. . but I could have done! I had an arthroscopic intervention in November, which was a disaster, and then the TKR in a different hopsital in January.
jan01779 martinarvelo
Posted
For me I am under a Rheumatologist at the same hospital as my Othopaeidic Surgeon so the infomation was there. I did research surgical outcomes and infection rates on NHS Choices beforehand. After reading research I was keen not ot stop my RA immunosuppressants for weeks prior to op. Mine only stopped for 2 weeks post op which was fine.
I aslo think we should own our medical notes and have summaries like a lot of other counties..
chris00938 martinarvelo
Posted
Interesting!!!!! I had cortisone shots in both knees donkey's years ago but I'd guess that was too long to make any difference? Did it mention how many years it was before it made no difference? They didn't work anyway. I was warned first though that the chances were they wouldn't help because knees were too far gone, but they thought it might be worth a try just in case because that was all they could do other than TKR which I said I didn't want.
martinarvelo chris00938
Posted
chris00938 martinarvelo
Posted
CHICO_MARX martinarvelo
Posted
Oldfatguy1 martinarvelo
Posted
Valerie, I've never seen or heard any of that but it makes me wonder considering I had a staph twice. During that time and getting to be on s 1st name bssis with my dr. I found there are so many different origins of staph and how they occur. In my case it was diagnosed as "epistaph" or an infection of the epidermis. According go our nephew ego is a well respected infectious disease Dr at the University of washington,.we all have enough staph on our skins to kill us but 99+ % of us have an immune system strong enough to fight off the bugs that would do us in.....apparently, I "ain't" one of them. This makes me wonder how that survey is broken down by varieties and % of each one. Always interesting when you start doing numbers and who is requesting and paying for the study
martinarvelo Oldfatguy1
Posted
Indeed . .and often figures which appear to mean something actually mean something totally different! so often with ideas like this which get thrown out without a lot of investigation, there are other root causes which aren't addressed . . or they get it wrong. Scientific investigation is amazing in the discoveries they have made, but occasionally what is gospel today is thrown out tomorrow. I hope you are finally free of problems with your knee . . it's been one terrible saga for you! Also hoping that your wife is doing as well as can be given the parkinson's . Reinaldo has changed so quickly from an independent, enthusiastic person to a shadow of his former self. It's a nasty, vicious disease , and in his case seems to have an associated loss of cognitive ability. . . .. unfortunately although there is medication to help with the symptoms, no cure as yet. Love to see your posts! . . still drift back to the forum occasionally. it's like an old friend~
Oldfatguy1 martinarvelo
Posted
Unfortunately my wife is going down that same path. Dementia is becoming morvobvious and she has started through the phase I dreaded the most to date, anger. She gets very frustrated with me over the littlest things. She always was a very organized person and now with memory issues she is driving me nuts with continually looking at the calender and asking about appointments, which. She can't remember. Greeting cards with hand written messages were second nature to her and now the handwriting is impossible to read and she hates printing them out on the computer. She gets very impatient and wants to all the cards 2 to 3 weeks ahead. We have a grandson graduating from the University of Kansas, which is half an hour from us, next month.
She will ask me 3 to 5 times a day about the card and what I've done about sending a gift I tell her I'm waiting for suggestions, it suddenly becomes my fault that it isn't done. I have to repeat appointment schedules 6 times a day some days. Now paranoia is setting in a little as she is starting to make claims that I'm telling lies about her. Its a heart breaking disease, that's for sure.
You take care and enjoy
chris00938 Oldfatguy1
Posted
My heart goes out to you (and Martinarvelo- is it your husband?) and all those with spouses suffering from any form of dementia. This has to be the hardest possible thing to cope with. Unfortunately paranoia seems to be part of the course for it and it's just dreadful. The best I can wish you is as many good days as possible and as few bad days as possible. But you are in my thoughts.
MAYO3133 martinarvelo
Posted
I had a cortisone shot 2 months ago,and after a few days I started getting pain and swelling in my hip
Now Im stuck in bed with pain so bad i want to die,all doctors say sciatica
I did get into physical therapy and i have a ultrasound tomorrow, but I feel Its infection, I have felt that way,
I really think its from the cortisone shot,my leg muscles are all caved in my hip is swollen huge, the pain is the worst pain I've ever felt,how can i get someone to hear me and treat me right,I think i need antibiotics,my cat who always runs to anyone upset and sees if there ok wont leave my side,she knows something is wrong, and I am worried for my life........like can it kills me?