Posted , 15 users are following.
I am three weeks post op.I had my staples out last Monday and the wound looked neat and had healed well.
This evening,after doing my knee bending and stretching exercises, the incision site is red and warm.
Oh! Dear! Is something amiss?
Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.
0 likes, 23 replies
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fostersmith61 saralice
Posted
Hi saralice
I too am 3 weeks,2 days post op tkr. What ur describing is very normal. I'm also a nurse experienced in post op wound management. Elevation and the ice machine are your friend. Please don't let that discourage you UNLESS the margins around the wound become tender, red, and swollen. Decreased ROM is also an indicator to call your doctor. As I write this my leg is elevated wrapped in ice machine. You may also notice a scant amount of fluid leakage at the bend of your knee from being torqued on by youth physical therapist. Keep bending keep walking keep up the painful recovery.
Best wishes
Foster
rbleegrip saralice
Posted
If in doubt get straight to surgeon,as soon as any wound looks red and especially warm do not risk it because believe me you do not won't an infection no matter how trivial you think that is good straight to surgeon I would not even bother booking appointment ring them tell them.what's going on and I. Sure if they are any good they will say come straight in ........best of luck
Annodoremouse rbleegrip
Posted
It takes time, it is painful, you will get depressed with lack of progress. Just keep going.
joyfull1 saralice
Posted
grammie52 saralice
Posted
This could be a major infection settling in
If in doubt, CALL YOUR DOCTOR ASAP
saralice
Posted
fostersmith61 saralice
Posted
Well
I'm speaking to you as both a patient and 30 yr experienced RN. You should feel better in AM but pay attention to
- decreased ROM
- pain swelling redness on BACK of leg (DVT)
-redness swelling and INCREASED pain AT incision
Orherwise most likely inflammation caused by breaking apart scar tissue and localized increased blood flow (hence warmth and redness) as a reaction.
I had redness and painful swelling below the incision on the shin, called the surgeon who said "not at all uncommon", ice elevation. Sure enough, 2 days later it resolved.
Good luck! Hang in there
diane95880 saralice
Posted
I am 7 weeks post-opTKR, and my knee is always warm. I was told that was very normal, and I don't have any other symptoms such as DVT. But when in doubt, call your doctor, and remember, ice is our friend??
rbleegrip saralice
Posted
Well like I said if in doubt see the surgeon asap I had same symptoms and ended up in hospital with a pseudomonus infection ended up having 5 operations in 6 weeks was In HDU for 2 weeks whole they discussed removing my leg ,I spent 2 mths in hospital all up and 6 mths recovery from scar tissue etc and this was an arthrospoy.that was 18mths ago I have just recently had a TKR 12 weeks out . I'm not being given alarmist when I say if in doubt get it checked ....anyone saying don't worry that is normal may be correct..that's what I was told until it was to late...just saying
fostersmith61 rbleegrip
Posted
Anyone whose leg it is should be careful. However, using logic, science, and medicine trying to keep an eye on it first it the primary step. Had she said it's been going on for days, sure call the doc. Her early AM wake up will tell her lots real problem/ no problem. Perhaps she'll wake I the middle of the night with worse pain.....call the doc or go to the ER. Too many times patients over react to common side effects. Our legs have been ripped apart, bone amputated, rods shoved down the bone lumen and drills and hammering done. The biggest challenge we face is agressively increase the ROM which naturally elicits pain, redness and swelling.
Nothing wrong with conservative treatments first (ice, elevation).
fostersmith61 rbleegrip
Posted
Anyone whose leg it is should be careful. However, using logic, science, and medicine trying to keep an eye on it first it the primary step. Had she said it's been going on for days, sure call the doc. Her early AM wake up will tell her lots real problem/ no problem. Perhaps she'll wake I the middle of the night with worse pain.....call the doc or go to the ER. Too many times patients over react to common side effects. Our legs have been ripped apart, bone amputated, rods shoved down the bone lumen and drills and hammering done. The biggest challenge we face is agressively increase the ROM which naturally elicits pain, redness and swelling.
Nothing wrong with conservative treatments first (ice, elevation).
barb5947 saralice
Posted
Hi Sara
I'm almost 6 weeks and my knee is still warm to the touch - which is normal . I don't think the scar bein red unless your whole knee is red - to be safe I would check with your doc tomorrow . Good luck!
Oldfatguy1 saralice
Posted
Red and warm just part of the bending and excercise. Just dont allow any water or other liquids to get into the incision. Bathe only as instructed by the surgeon. Don't be alarmed if you see an errant stitch as sometimes an internal one will work it's way to the top. Don't use oils or creams until the scabs are all healed and sealed. If you have any green or yellow drainage or start run in a temp get to the ER. at once. That's when the concern should kick in. You may have this warm, red feeling for some time as that's the soft tissue healing. Physical therapy will also create a lot of that as well. Ice, elevate and above all, hydrate. Lots and lots of water.
dave63380 saralice
Posted
Call you doctor / don't wait / could be nothing but need to find out now / if it is infection the quicker the better
nuala16574 saralice
Posted
Hi Sara lice, I had similar redness at the base of my scar about a week after the staples were removed, I phoned the hospital and Ortho nurse said cone in straight away, she cleaned the area and surprise surprise she tweezed out 3 stubborn stitches which were causing infection, it's not uncommon for this to happen, best wishes, ??