Total knee replacement infection after 9 years.

Posted by rguribe @rguribe, Oct 2, 2019

I recently had an infection on my total knee replacement, they went in and clean the infected area. I was on 6 weeks of Vancomycin antibiotics through a PICC line, and afterwards, the doctor stated that I would have to be on a low dose of antibiotics (Doxycycline 100mg) for the rest of my life, that it was the new recommendation from the AMA. I have not been able to find that info in the AMA website and my concern is the side effects of taking antibiotics for the rest of my life. Has anybody gone thru a similar infection and is presently on antibiotic for the rest of their life? Thank you

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Joint Replacements Support Group.

@sonia0

From my experience, it’s not ageism by the medical community per se. When I received my right TKR in 2015, I was 55, and only because my natural knee joint was experiencing RA erosion. I had my left TKR scheduled for late March 2020, then the COVID lockdowns hit, and I have now chosen to forego my left TKR as long as possible. I have 2 autoimmune diseases and take medications that also suppress my immune system, so my surgeon says to take antibiotics for life. I mountain bike on advanced, single track trails. I can’t imagine playing racquet sports ever again, but then my RA affects my knees, hands, arms, shoulders, spine.

Jump to this post

Hello @sonia0, Welcome to Connect, an online community where patients and caregivers share their experiences, find support and exchange information with others. Thank you for sharing your experience in this discussion. It really helps for members to learn from the member shared experiences.

Do you mind sharing what you were searching for when you found Connect?

REPLY
@rguribe

I am researching taking antibiotics for the rest of my life, but I have found/gotten mixed responses from doctors/websites. I am making an appointment with Mayo clinic to discuss this further. Unfortunately, I have taken great amount of antibiotics for past illnesses thru the years and so it is of great concern.

Jump to this post

Ask your family doctor to run a quantitative immunoglobulin panel. You might have CVID.

REPLY

I have a similar situation. 8 years post op for TKR on right knee. No symptoms the
Knee was great did everything. Skied, bikes you name it. I was working( officiating a college baseball game, worked 1st game no issues. 2nd game off swelling started. 3 rd game. It blew up. Finished game sat down and after that couldn’t walk on it. No open wounds, no dental work. Mind boggling. Had the same surgery. Clean out pellets picc line for 6 weeks but anti biotics for 4 months not lifetime. Wondering how long your rehab was? I had the new surgery on Memorial Day weekend working it well got flexibility back but still swells and very weak still.

REPLY
@drmom5

Ask your family doctor to run a quantitative immunoglobulin panel. You might have CVID.

Jump to this post

Are you saying there might be a Covid infection in knee?

REPLY
@pwsharpe

Are you saying there might be a Covid infection in knee?

Jump to this post

She didn't have a typo, Cvid is a deficiency of infection fighting protein in your blood. Are you still having problems with the knee?

REPLY
@bambro

I have a similar situation. 8 years post op for TKR on right knee. No symptoms the
Knee was great did everything. Skied, bikes you name it. I was working( officiating a college baseball game, worked 1st game no issues. 2nd game off swelling started. 3 rd game. It blew up. Finished game sat down and after that couldn’t walk on it. No open wounds, no dental work. Mind boggling. Had the same surgery. Clean out pellets picc line for 6 weeks but anti biotics for 4 months not lifetime. Wondering how long your rehab was? I had the new surgery on Memorial Day weekend working it well got flexibility back but still swells and very weak still.

Jump to this post

Had you been to the dentist?

REPLY

Thank you for info. I looked it up CVID and don't think that is or was my problem. Yes, I am still having trouble with my knee. Now 13 months post op. Still working with new PT building muscle in thigh, hip knee area. Flex is better but sure not like before surgery. Had Covid 2 weeks after surgery with NO PT. Started back with light PT about week 5 for a few days. Went to hospital for 2 weeks with diverticulitis and NO PT. Had MUA around week 13 with little improvement. Then lots of painful PT for months which seemed to make the knee worse. I am now at a point of just saying this is the best I can expect. Very discouraged and really not interested in having the other knee done. Any information you could pass along about minimally invasive tkr?

REPLY
@lk3xs

Had you been to the dentist?

Jump to this post

No I haven’t. Completely out of the blue

REPLY

My 79 year old mother had a TKR 6 years ago. Her pain, swelling and hot knee has her in tears most days. Many pain meds don't even help. Three knee doctors all say it looks fine on scans. It is swollen, hot and excruciating. I can not bear to watch her suffering until the day she dies. She has had NO quality of life since her surgery. She now lives with me as it has fully disabled her and no one will listen and help. She is in bed almost for 5 years now. One doctor said it is phantom knee pain, What a bunch of crap! I do not know how to help her and I can not bear it either. I have CVID, Sjogren's, Fibromyalgia and inflammatory arthritis myself and live in pain but nothing I have seems to compare to her pain. She rocks in a chair crying from the pain with cold compresses on her knee. I do not know where tp turn for help and I am so discouraged and sad. If anyone has a doctor in DFW area that helped them can you share the name please?

REPLY

Drs Pond and Wolf at Arlington Orthopedic are very good and did mine, my husband’s TKR including several neighbors. Might be worth their opinion.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.