Connect
TKR after Infection
Hi, I had my first Right TKR in 1/2024. After a month it became hot, swollen, night sweats and limited ROM. Saw surgeon he suggested a manipulation. Had Manip in 3/24. Saw surgeon 5/24 as it was still not blending after PT for 14 days post Mani and then PT 3x a week.
He told me to go “go live my best life”.
I went to another city to get a 2nd opinion in Sept 2024.
That surgeon did a bone scan and said full of infection. Duh!!
That surgeon contacted my surgeon and gave info. My surgeon then did Arthroscopic 10/24 to get tissue samples and clean up knee. I was full of Staph EPI.
I then had a 1.5 TKR Revision in 11/24 and was on antibiotics for 8 months. 11/25-5/25. Infectious Disease then had to manage me and my recovery.
No signs of infection now 7/25. But it’s so angry it’s loosing its ROM. With weights on my ankle I can get to 110.
It is a continuous battle to get it to bend. I still do PT 2 to 3 times a week.
I still limp. Go up n down stairs with one leg. This is not “living my best life”!
My surgeon has me on a 35 day track of Prednisone to help. Started it 7/25/25. It’s kind of working. Makes my back feel great!
He won’t see me until it’s been a year from my 11/24 TKR 1.5 Revision.
Has anyone else had this situation and any advice?
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Joint Replacements Support Group.
Connect
If your Dr won't see you til 1 year after surgery, insist on seeing the PA or Dr himself. Or find a new Dr. You know when your body is not right. I've had a TKR and 2 revisions the last one being a hinge , 2nd stage being Feb. '24. Yes lot's of hardware. Learning how to walk all over again. Each time is different. The pain this last time is unbearable at times. I went again to Drs . He gave me two new exercises to help alleviate the "being pinched in a vice" feeling when I come up from a bend (an 8 on pain scale) I also started wearing my 90 degree brace occasionally. It has helped at least 40% in a few weeks, also aquatic therapy is helping.
My Dr has always had my back or should I say knee, for the last 8 yrs of surgeries and before that. Yes I've had second opinions. All is well with my dr it's my body that does not like foreign objects! I too am not capable of stairs but I keep trying. Infections are the pits, I feel your pain. Loosening of the joint is so painful I almost blacked out and I have a high threshold of pain. I wish you well, I'll try stem cell on my other knee, but probably not a TKR. P.S. Prednisone is great! haha I have PsA and am my happiest when I need to be on it short term. I feel like my age is reversed. 27 instead of 72!!!
I developed an infection in my first TKR seven months after the surgery. After PIC line antibiotic therapy failed with original prosthetic in place, a 4-1/2 hour surgery removed it and put in a temporary plastic spacer. The same PIC line antibiotic therapy was repeated snd finally worked. Waited a couple of months to be sure infection was gone and then a surgery to put in a new permanent prosthetic. All has been fine since including another TKR on my other knee.