Community Chat

[Goodie2shoes]

My right knee replacement was 9/30/19. I had a complication with swelling and excessive pain in November but that resolved just fine. Now I have a new problem that started in May. I started having a small area of swelling at the bottom of the suture line that overnight swelled to a huge blister and started draining. I went to the surgeon who ordered bloodwork and he aspirated fluid from the knee and put me on antibiotics and it cleared up. The bloodwork came back neg for any problem with the replacement hardware. I followed up with the doctor, everything was fine then within 2 days the blister returned and started draining again so I called the doctor, told to ice it over last weekend, had more bloodwork but he can't figure out what's going on. He is not ordering more antibiotics but says I should just use antibiotic ointment, keep it covered and let him know how it looks next week. It's a little painful but I'm not taking any pain meds.  So I am just wondering if anyone else has had this type of problem this far post surgery. I don't have any pain in the knee itself and  they used glue to close the surgery wound and I didn't have any complications with my left knee replacement 5 years ago.  Just wondering if anyone can relate and what was your outcome, thanks

[Mindy D]

Ask for more bloodwork to check for infection again. Be persistent. 

[hckynut]

@Goodie2shoes 

Have you considered a 2nd opinion? My wife had her right knee done at the end of October. She had to go back to have it "manipulated"(same anesthesia) because of the lack degree of bend.

Other than that, and me kicking her in the butt to do her exercises, she is ok. Not my ok, but hers. Nothing however like you are experiencing with your knee.

hckynut 🏒

[ninjawife]

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@Mindy D wrote:

Ask for more bloodwork to check for infection again. Be persistent. 

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I agree.  My father had a knee replacement that got infected shortly after surgery.  He had major complications becasue the surgeon did not think there was any problem even though my father's incision was red and painful to the touch.  The incision ended up rupturing and he had to have the knee replacement removed.  That was only the start of his complications.  He had 10 follow up surgeries with a second replacement failing and ended up having to have his knee fused.  He was in pain the rest of his life. 

[Goodie2shoes]

@Mindy D  wrote :Ask for more bloodwork to check for infection again. Be persistent. 

He did a second sed rate but said it didn't show increased inflammation. I will give it a few more days, it's a bit smaller in size now but that's what happened after the first episode. Thanks

[SXMGirl]

@ You know your body better than anyone.  Insist that the doctor check everything out and possibly give you more or different antibiotics, or get a second opinion (I know that is not a welcome thought right now).  

[Goodie2shoes]

@hckynut  wrote:

Have you considered a 2nd opinion? My wife had her right knee done at the end of October. She had to go back to have it "manipulated"(same anesthesia) because of the lack degree of bend.

Other than that, and me kicking her in the butt to do her exercises, she is ok. Not my ok, but hers. Nothing however like you are experiencing with your knee.

I really like my doctor, he did my left knee replacement, no issues. I will however certainly keep that in mind if this does not resolve itself. Thanks

[Susan in California]

@Goodie2shoes 

I have had knee replacement and did not have any issues, but I have known people who have.

A suggestion:

A doctor once told me many years ago that getting a second opinion is always smart.  She said if

a doctor feels slighted by another opinion, then

you might want to change doctors. 

I always remembered that.

[shoesnbags]

@Goodie2shoes 

My knee replacement is 13 years old and I still take NO chances with any risk of infection.  If it were me, I'd ask to have a sample of the drainage cultured to find out what if anything is infecting your knee.  Taking a wait and see approach would not work for me.  Too much at stake, as you can see from some of the previous posts.

[RetRN]

Follow the Dr.'s instructions and follow-up with him next week. I see no reason for a second opinion at this time. It sounds like it is improving.