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Total knee replacement infection after 9 years.
Joint Replacements | Last Active: Sep 10, 2023 | Replies (82)Comment receiving replies
Hi @rguribe - Welcome to Connect. That is so scary that you developed an infection 9 years later. I've had 2 TKR's - one in 2017 and one earlier this year. I never dreamed that an infection could develop after so many years. You must have been devastated. My doctor has told me I have to take antibiotics before teeth cleaning for the rest of my life, but its just 4 amoxicyllin ever 6 months so it's not the same as your situation. While we are waiting for others to chime in, can you tell me what the rest of your recovery was like? Were there extenuating circumstances or did this kind of hit you out of the blue?
Replies to "Hi @rguribe - Welcome to Connect. That is so scary that you developed an infection 9..."
So sorry to hear about the infection. The first TKR I was advised to take amoxicillin for teeth cleanings the most recent TKR in Jan 2023 the new surgeon advised antibiotics no longer necessary. Does anyone have the same experience?
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Hello Debbra, regarding my infection, I woke up in the morning and I went to step down from the bed and I almost fell down from the pain. I could not walk on it, it was swollen, so I went to the ER. I had no prior symptoms. They drew some fluid from my knee and it was bloody/puss like, and the tests showed an infection. They did emergency surgery the next day. The doctor said that I was fortunate that I did not wait long to get it checked out because the infection could have spread into my bloodstream.
According to the doctor, they cleaned/scrubbed the infected areA, and then they put antibiotic pellets inside the knee before they stitched it up. Unfortunately, they had to put 41 stitches because it was too swollen for just put glue and tape. I now have a pretty nasty scar. I had to be on Vancomycin antibiotic thru a PICC line for 6 weeks which I administered myself twice a day. I lost 20 pounds because the antibiotic took my appetite away, I could barely eat once a day, nausea, dizziness and it killed my stomach, even thou it was administered intravenously.
After 4 months of physical therapy, I am getting better every day. I have to say that this recovery has taken longer and more painful.
The downside is that I have to be on antibiotics for the rest of my life. Oh well, the alternative could have been worse.