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Operated knee warmer than other.

Posted , 6 users are following.

john_04330
john_04330

Still got a rash which Ive had almost since the operation about 5 months ago in November. My operated knee feels MUCH warmer to the touch than the other one. Anybody at or near the same stage feel the same? I wondered if this is normal or if it is significant. Anything wrong?

0 likes, 19 replies

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  • marge23618
    marge23618 john_04330

    Posted

    John, it's 9 weeks post-op for this gal and my tkr knee is still swollen and stays WARM to the touch. Also pain and that nasty old "raw" feeling is still there. UGH! 

    Everyday is an improvement as far as healing and I walk un-aided although I'm not sure I should.?? Feelings of depression, sadness still linger and I wonder if the Tramodol and Tylenol PM is the cause. Would be so good if we had a meeting place and a LIVE forum! 

    • sueisobel
      sueisobel marge23618

      Posted

      Marge, this is early days. If you are in pain it means you are not taking the right amount of meds.  Up them or change to something stronger. Do not walk unaided, use a cane not a crutch or walker.  Depression is normal, your brain is going through a lot right now, plus all the anaesthetic and "debris" is leaving your system.  But it will pass, it may take a little time, but it will.  Herbal teas, smelly candles, essential oils and comfort food.  Do the lot, spoil yourself and praise yourself at each milestone you overcome.  Treat every small improvement as a major improvement.
    • john_04330
      john_04330 marge23618

      Posted

      Hi Marge

      Yes. Warm and still raw even at five months. I think you will find it improves though at your stage Marge. At 9 weeks I was still using my stick on occasion though. Just do how your knee tells you would be my advice. My recovery period was over Christmas,which was just over a month after my operation and with no family to speak of I was not depressed but fed up I suppose. I was on tramadol but the doctor took me off it. Luckily naxproxen is pretty good. Im off painkillers now but still get that raw feeling. Thing is Im a bit of a gym bunny and dont know whether I overdo that.

      Thanks for the reply Marge. Sure youll get to feel better. And youure right,there should be a LIVE forum as you suggest.

      Thanks

      John.

    • sueisobel
      sueisobel marge23618

      Posted

      Hey we are all in the same boat, one way or another.  Take care and stay well
  • sueisobel
    sueisobel john_04330

    Posted

    Of course your knee is still warm, think of all the different layers there are, each one is individually stitched up and each bit has to recover, not to mention your soft tissues and nerves.  If I am honest, your nerve endings will most probably give you most grief as they re-knit, they will be sending all sorts of messages to your brain, take meds, it's too early for pain management, but there are non meds you can use, like lidocaine patches, they are stronger than the patches you an buy over the counter, but not good if you have issues with plasters.  Also speak with your doctor, discuss what you feel and what they suggest.  Get them on your side and you will find they are a blessing in disguise, they no more want you to be in pain, but they can't help you if you don't ask.  There is nothing wimpish about saying you are in agony, there is nothing wimpish about taking extra meds.  The one thing you must NOT do is think about "gosh am I taking too much, am I going to be addicted to painkillers". Kill the pain first and deal with incidentals later.  Learn patience (not the card game) it is going to be your best friend for a while. Ice or use heat pads, one or other works, depends on you.  Work on your muscles, if you can, use a cycle, static or otherwise, make the saddle as high as possible and if if you can't do a whole revolution, do a half revolution.  Make every exercise you do personal to your needs, not what the physio tells you, yes they are the professionals, but they are also there you guide you in the right direction, if you can't get down stairs properly, come down backwards!  There are always alternatives.
    • john_04330
      john_04330 sueisobel

      Posted

      Hi Sueisobel

      Thanks for that about the knee being warm. But the last thing I worry about is getting addicted to painkillers. I think i will try a naproxen a day,two is the maximum. Probably got off painkillers too quickly on reflection,but Im not in agony.

      The thing about my doctors is you cant get in to see them. About 3 weeks ago I queued at 730 am in the cold waiting for the surgery to open at 8am. I got an appointment for 2 weeks later. Its like getting an audience with the Pope seeing a doctor here. And the appointment I got was with the nurse prescriber,not the doctor. 

      And regarding working the muscles,Im doing plenty of that. No problems on the bike,or in the pool. I can do everything the physio asks,walking ok,driving. but as Marge calls it that nasty old raw feeling,the band,the clicking. All still there. But im not too worried about that. When/if I get shut of this rash Ill be happy. Still concerned it might be something on the inside showing itself on the out. Thanks as ever for your help Sueisobel. The first bit definitely reassured me

      John.

    • sueisobel
      sueisobel john_04330

      Posted

      Blimey, are you living in the dark ages, what sort of doctor do you have, how utterly soul destroying.   Am sorry, that is one thing I don't have to experience. The clicking will ease, but you have to work at it, but right now you will  cooling down the knee and getting I'd of your rash. Have you tried the cooling gels that you rub into muscles.  Have you tried anti histamine creams, calamine lotion. It will settle, so long as it's not red and angry.  If you are worried go to your pharmacy, they may not be able to treat you as such, but they should be able to put your mind at rest, specially if you tell them you can't get in to see your doctor, they know as much if not more than the practice nurse, the tightness again is down to you and how you exercise, massaging will help and that to will ease.  Sometimes it is frustrating not to be one of the fortunate ones that heal just like that.  Be patient, it truly will get better. Once the heat has gone you can concentrate on exercising your muscles,  only then will you be able to control the clicking/grinding.  Understand how your new joint works and what all the connecting muscles and tissues do. It will begin to make sense and you will understand.  Good luck (as an afterthought, are you putting anything on your skin even if it is something you use everyday)
    • john_04330
      john_04330 sueisobel

      Posted

      Hi Sueisobel

      I was waiting till I got the cream for my rash before I repied to you. I dont put anything else on my knee if that was what you are asking due to my rash. As a matter of course I use face cream and for itching I use e45 itch cream. When necessary. The cream the dermatologist gave me is mometasone cream. Says it is a potent steroid preparation to be applied once per day. I saw the dermatologist on Monday,handed the prescription in today and have just got it. 3 days. I tried to make an appointment with the doctor for 2 weeks after i see whether the treatment works but was told there are no prebookable appointments available. Thats what we are up against. And there were only 3 patients waiting to see the doctor.

      Thanks once again Sueisobel

      John.

    • sueisobel
      sueisobel john_04330

      Posted

      Hi John. The cream I used was Cetraben found this on the internet:Suitable for sufferers of all ages, Cetraben helps to relieve discomfort, reduces the itch and the need to scratch it. Convenient to use, Cetraben's airless pump dispensers allow for easy and accurately measured applications throughout the day).

      I dind't have a rash as such, more like thousand of mozzies eating my knee alive.  If you go to the manufacturers website there is a "skin Diary", not sure if that is of help to you.

      The doctor thing where you are is a sorry situation, I thought that type of service was stopped ages ago. That is what our National Insurance is for surely.  Can you go anywhere else?  Mind you when I moved back to this country our surgery was a little like that, but one of the doctors set up surgery elsewhere.  It is a distance to drive to but, you ring at 8:30 on the morning you want to go and you get an appointment for the same day, she also does house calls if urgent.  When I asked about "being outside the zone", her reply was it is an excuse made up by the doctors themselves to save them the bother of driving any distance! Her attitude is "Patients come first", yes she is overworked, but she is expanding and the doctors she is getting in all have that same ethic.  Yes, I have to wait if I want to see her personally, but only a day or 2.  I guess I am very fortunate to have such support. Sometimes I feel like a guinea pig when trying new things, if it works brilliant, if it does not, then we go onto something else. 

      I hope this cream you are using works, if not go to a pharmacy, Speak to the pharmacist, don't tell them what you have been trying, just say you have a rash that's come up, what can they recommend, yes it will be over the counter, if its a branded formula you can always ask if they have their own brand; which is normally heaps better. Dont forget, they have the same "drug" knowhow, if not more than GP's.

      Wishing you a pleasant weekend

      Sue

    • john_04330
      john_04330 sueisobel

      Posted

      Hi Sueisobel

      The skin specialist told me to get cetraben,as well as prescribing the other stuff. I bought a tub for ten pounds yesterday. I have a general skin itch but strangely enough its not on my operated knee. I put the first bit on last night,ithe other cream i mean. You only do it once a day. What I wanted to do was see if this cream worked in 2 weeks,so I asked at the surgery for an appointment for then to see a doctor. Was told no prbookable appointments but to ring at 8am today for one. I rang at 8am,was 7th in the queue,and after 15 minutes got through. To be told there were no prebookable appointments. These doctors here are taking the P,and I am very close to telling them so. 

      Thanks for the advice on the chemist Sue. Ive always trusted them more than the doctors. Well,I trust the vet more than I do them.

      There is a surgery a bit nearer me than the one I go to now,which has moved farther away. Once I see how the kland lies,I will move to them. But while this is ongoing I am a bit reluctant. 

      I appreciate your advice and concern Sue,along with other members. The thing is,compared with some people on here,my problems are minimal. I will keep you posted

      John.

    • sueisobel
      sueisobel john_04330

      Posted

      You are welcome.  Just remember you may think compared to others your problems are minimal, but to you, they are not.

      Take care, go see the pharmacist, change doctors (have you thought about Chinese medicine or alternative therapy)  and have a relaxing weekend

    • john_04330
      john_04330 sueisobel

      Posted

      Hi Sueisobel

      Just got letter from the dermatologist to my doctor. He says  "although it is unusual to develop allergy due to metallic implants the pattern of his eczema is very suggestive of it. If we can control the symptons simply,doing allergy tests yo identify whether it was cobalt chrome or titanium is probably not necessary"  Hes prescribed the cream on repeat to be used daily and if it settles to be used twice a week. So heres hoping. 

      Also I HAVE considered alternative medicine but will try this first obviously. Have a good weekend also Sue

      Thanks

      John.

       

    • john_04330
      john_04330 sueisobel

      Posted

      Hi Sue

      Ive decided to get a second opinion from another surgeon privately to do with the rash. I have been told by a reasonable source that if I have an allergic reaction to the metal and it is found to be I will have to have THIS knee replaced. Im going to see this guy who has a good reputation and see what he says. If its just a rash I can put up with it but if it can cause further problems I want to know what and make a decision. Got a bit of a bad feeling about that. But a friend of mine came todaty who had his operation a year before mine and HIS knee is STILL warm. So thats my position as of now.

      John.

    • sueisobel
      sueisobel john_04330

      Posted

      Sweetie, wish you good luck, one way or another your mind will be put to rest.  Keep us posted

      Wishing you a pleasant weekend

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