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TKR - possible infection

Posted , 7 users are following.

mary12001
mary12001

I'm now 9 months post op and as I am still suffering it's been suggested by a family member that I could have an infection in the prosthetic which is made of cobalt and chrome. Can anybody tell me what the symptoms might be.

Surely it would be different to an ordinary infection?

When I saw a consultant last week regarding my walking difficulties, he said that 2% of people who have knee replacement are not happy with them. This seems an awful lot considering the amount of people having this operation. I got the impression he was trying to fob me off!!

0 likes, 20 replies

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  • AlexandriaGizmo
    AlexandriaGizmo mary12001

    Posted

    I'm sure that his figures were about right, that's actually a really small figure, 20 in every 1000, but just because you could be one of the 2% shouldn't stop him finding out why you are having a problem with yours.

    Get back to him and stamp your foot, good one of course but be careful when you lift your foot to stamp, your poorly leg doesn't give way, bit of humour:-)

    I think if there's was an infection your knee would probably be very swollen and extremely hot, I think its quite noticeable but having only ever had a bad case of inflammation which was awfull I'm not positive of the symptoms, I'm sure someone else will know

    • mary12001
      mary12001 AlexandriaGizmo

      Posted

      Tks Alexandria

      His remedy was to book me nine sessions of hydrotheraphy with a physio.

      However, there's a waiting list of 8-10 weeks!!

    • AlexandriaGizmo
      AlexandriaGizmo mary12001

      Posted

      Yes I'm the same, been waiting a few weeks already but I'm told its brilliant, can't wait.

      I'm booked for orthotics on 16th December as I have leg length discrepancy and supposedly that's what's causing my pain to be worse.

      Warm flannels help but suppose you have tried all that .

  • april99094
    april99094 mary12001

    Posted

    They need to do blood work to see if you have infection, they should not wait long to do that.
    • mary12001
      mary12001 april99094

      Posted

      Do u know what blood test because if it's actually on the prosthetic will it show up

    • april99094
      april99094 mary12001

      Posted

      yes it will show up they need to do a CBC and white blood cells will be elevated if there is infection, you doctor will know the test
    • mary12001
      mary12001 april99094

      Posted

      That's useful to tell my doctor.

      What does CBC stand for??

    • AlexandriaGizmo
      AlexandriaGizmo mary12001

      Posted

      CBT stands for complete blood count.

      A CRP test which stands for

      C-Reactive protein is a test that looks for inflammatory markers to show if you have inflammation which in turn will show them there's something not right as in an infection somewhere in the body.

      Or a ECP test, which also shows infection in the body, non will show where but it will tell them its worth investigating.

  • lynn15111
    lynn15111 mary12001

    Posted

    As physicians they should explore with you the possibilities since in some people, Rheumatoid arthritis can set into only the knees.  I would suggest some serology blood tests to see if you have any autoimmunity and with that a CBC to be sure there is no elevation of your wbc, or the fighters in your blood, since infection should always be ruled out when there is pain.  If they did an after the op x-ray that should also rule out anything that could have gone wrong with the implants, such as wrong size or getting unseated from the bone.    Never let a Doctor just brush off your concerns, because while that may be the easiest thing for them, you are paying them and have every right to demand due diligenceon their part to investigate.
  • peggy15811
    peggy15811 mary12001

    Posted

    I am 5 months out from left for and still have a major problem with walking very far. Still using a cane because of this but also because I have left hip pain and right knee pain too. At my last visit with doctor I still had knee inflammation, but he was not concerned, said it could last 6 to 12 months. I have no pain when inactive but after any major walking, I need to ice and use my TENS unit and stay off my feet. Yesterday I had a mammogram at the hospital. I had to walk to thru the parking lot and 3rd floor at the very extreme end of hospital. Driving home my knee and behind my knee was throbbing. Had to ice and get off it the minute I got home. I am done with PT so do not know how to progress. Does it just take more time? There is nowhere here to get hydrotherapy. I live in Las Vegas. There are fancy spas in the hotels with pools but they cost over $100 a day to use if you are not a guest of the hotel. I want badly to progress but have not figured out a solution.
    • mary12001
      mary12001 peggy15811

      Posted

      Oh Peggy can we swap homes for two weeks.

      I would love to see Las Vegas.

      All this of course when my knee recovers. I am 9 months post op.

      It's been nearly a whole year out of my life. I'm exhausted from it.

      I didn't go out today because I was tired because I was in so much pain in my knee last night (it was waking me up constantly)and it's back tonight so I've got an ice pack on it.

      I think it's better if I walk, otherwise it seems to seize up.

      Somedays I wish I'd never had it done. What for? If it's going to do this to you?

      Have to go

    • peggy15811
      peggy15811 mary12001

      Posted

      Mary, Las Vegas isn't that great a place to live, okay to visit but everything is for the tourist not the residents. I am also wondering what I have done but am hoping it gets better. It started out fine, very little pain etc. I got pretty good bend, not quite 120 but to 118 so doctor said it was fine. Never had problems with straightening it. PT went pretty well but that's not everyday life. There is where I am having trouble and what this surgery was supposed to correct. I think being somewhat inactive is my problem but being active with a knee that hurts, another knee that has not had tkr but hurts and a very bad hip too. I was planning hip replacement surgery first before my fall. Now though I do not want to do hip replacement until I can get back to normal with this new knee. I'm afraid if I do I will never recover, it will just be too much. My sister-in-law had tkr and said it hurt her for a year and sometimes still does, 2 years later, but she is productive so has to be almost normal. My fingers are crossed for both of us Mary. Some of us just seem to take longer. I'm disappointed because it started so well I thought I would heal quickly. Thankfully I usually do not have too much trouble sleeping. It's activity I have trouble with. I've never been into fitness but always kept my house clean, did grocery shopping, cooking, shopping  etc. I'm still having trouble with those basic things and it drives me crazy. I used to be a doer....

    • april99094
      april99094 peggy15811

      Posted

      Hello Peggy i also live in Las Vegas small world. I am going in for total knee revision in 2 weeks kind of nervous about it.
    • peggy15811
      peggy15811 april99094

      Posted

      It is a small world! I found the surgery to be the easy part, so don't be nervous there. Don't know who is doing it, but ask for a nerve block, you won't feel a thing when you wake up as it will be numb for about 2 days. Recovery is the hard part. I walked down to check the mail without my cane today for the first time today....small victories. If I had done much walking today I would not have been able to do it though. I had wanted to do PT with a place with pool therapy too as I heard that really helps, but my doctor wanted me to go elsewhere. I don't feel as if I got enough PT, I am very bad at exercising on my own and don't have everything I need for that, also hubby is a disabled veteran and I am busy when home, I liked having a specified time for PT. However my left hip and right knee make many things difficult. Just hoping that housework and shopping will eventually get easier and my knee will eventually lose that "In a vise" feeling. It doesn't feel that way all the time, but more than I would like. I had thought by now I would be more back to normal as my PT guy had said I was right on track, but I am 5 months and still get pain, am still very limited with walking far and getting on with my life....

      i hope your revision goes very well. I know another lady in Las Vegas going in for her second total knee replacement about the same time as yours. Her recovery was also slow, but she is doing well now. It may take me a long while to get my other knee done....do not look forward to it.

    • april99094
      april99094 peggy15811

      Posted

      Yes Peggy it is a small world maybe we should be a group of us together in Las Vegas for group therapy or just to talk. Dr. Kang is doing my revision, i had a femor block last time and it really helped.  Are you still having to take pain medications?
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