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← Return to TKR #2..... Lessons I am learning
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TKR #2..... Lessons I am learning
Joint Replacements | Last Active: Feb 3, 2023 | Replies (64)Comment receiving replies
There are a few things I forgot: #1) go to a medical supply house, hospital or some pharmacies & buy a medical chair & put it in your tub. You can sit on the chair and then swing your legs over the side of the tub, then stand up to shower Don't take a bath. Hopefully now you have hand rails in the tub. #2) The VNA nurse should show up the next morning after your TKA surgery and take the bandage off & look at your incision for signs of infection. Ask him/her to replace the dressing with a waterproof bandage so you can take a shower. #3) The day before the surgery, after you get up, wash all your sheets & pillowcases. #4) Use Hibiclens (buy it at a pharmacy) to wash your knee every day for several days before the surgery and use it liberally to wash your knee the morning of your surgery. #5) Religiously take the baby aspirin prescribed both morning and night so you won't throw a clot. #6) Before anything you do that you think might cause an infection, take the antibiotic prophylactic antibiotic regimen. The VNA PT told me of one patient she had that got an infection from a pedicure. Better yet, skip pedicures. If you get an infection, they automatically zero in on your prosthesis & then the surgeon has to open your knee back up, remove the prosthesis, drain the knee, pour antibiotic solutions into your knee & replace the prosthesis. You don't want that to happen under any circumstances.
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All great tips here. But I need additional info, having learned I’m going to have to have a root canal. It’s only 12 weeks since I had my very successful right knee replacement. (2 years ago I also had my left knee done).
The recent surgery went very well, not much pain and I’m back walking and biking. But now with no pain whatsoever. I’m grateful beyond words but concerned about having to have a root canal, because of possible infection going to the knee. My surgeon said if I can hold off they advise waiting 3 months after a knee replacement to have dental procedures because an infection might settle in the knee. Naturally, I’m hesitant to proceed and will try and hold off unless the tooth really goes haywire. I’d love to hear if anyone has successfully proceeded with a tooth extraction or root canal after TKR. Thanks to all. I’m finding this forum very helpful.
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Thank you for both of your posts. You added important information especially about the pre-surgery cleansing and the need to remove all evidence of a manicure and pedicure. The goal is to have absolutely nothing that could create an infection. As you noted......the fix for that is not something you want to happen. The other reminder item is to make sure you use antibiotics before you have any dental work done. And the advice is to let your orthopedist select the brand not your dentist. Sounds reasonable to me.
Anyone else have items to add? Please join our memory bank of good ideas.
May you all be free and protected from inner and outer harm.
Chris