Do I proceed to a TKA or live with what I have?

[Jill M]

Well, I started having pain at the top of my tibia area. It seem to be a more superficial pain vs. a deep pain. I am really nervous, this is where I have previously developed scar tissue in the past. It is painful to touch. Pain woke me up in the middle of the night. I am 8 weeks post op today.
I have put in a call to Dr. B's office. He is in the OR. I will probably get a call back today from one of the PA's. I have that awful feeling in the pit of my stomach and I just feel like crying!! 

Jill

[Rennschnecke]

I'm sorry to hear that you're in some pain now, especially after how well you've been doing.

I know it's difficult to not worry after a history of repeated AF, but just get that leg up and in the cryocuff whilst you await a response from Dr B.

Keep us posted!

[Jill M]

Thanks for your reply Rennschnecke. I came home from work early to ice and elevate the knee. I didn't get a call back from the PA. I hope to hear from Dr. B tomorrow.
If I have to travel to MI next week to see him I am prepared for that as well.

Jill

[Jill M]

I was awakened with palpitations through the night but they resolved. When I got up to go to work I noticed that my heart was racing. I looked at my knee and it was red and hot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I went to the ER. My heart rate was 128. No fever but something was going on. They did all kinds of labs and gave me Vancomycin and Rocephin. I called Dr. B's office. He called and talked with the ER MD. He requested a few more tests to be run. One is a CRP that looks for infection.
I was sent home on Keflex and Clindamycin. ER MD thought it was more of superficial infection. My WBC was normal. I am praying that he is right! 
The increased pain now makes sense.
Jill

[Janet]

Jill:

I'm so glad you went to the hospital! An infection is nothing to mess around with. I hope the meds do the trick and you'll be feeling better soon.

Janet

[missmyknee]

Hi Jill

How frightening that was. You probably caught that just in time before you broke out in fever and had increase in WBC. I hope you see improvements quickly. Nothing scares a TKR patient more than the word infection.

Are you taking probiotics with your antibiotics?  I took clindamycin ONCE, and got c-diff. I never wanted to go thru that again. I even write clindamycin when I am asked about drug allergies.

Pam

 

[Jill M]

Pam,
I am seeing some improvements today. Knee is not so red today. Thanks for the heads up about the probiotics. I went out and got some today. The last thing I need is c-diff!!

Jill

[Jill M]

I am worried that my old friend AF is raring it's ugly head again! I have been experience periods of my knee turning red/warm. I is sometimes related to sitting at my desk for a long period of time or just riding the bike. One of the other symptoms I am having is a tight feeling across the top of my tibia along with a burning pain. It feels like someone is pressing down on my leg. I had been able to just take Ibuprofen but now have had to return to taking pain meds along with the Ibuprofen. The area where my pain is located is where I previously accumulated a large about of scar tissue that was removed during one of my many scopes.  My motion hasn't seem to be affected thus far. In fact I was discharged from PT this week. Met all my goals. Flexion was 124 and maintaining extension 0. I have been coming home from work and elevating apply the polar care.
I go to see Dr. B for my 3 month check up on Wednesday. I am scared and frustrated at the same time. Just when I thought I was doing so well. On top of all of that I got a call from my GYN office that I have a "density" on my Mammo and I have to have further testing next Friday. 
I will keep everyone posted on how my appointment goes.

Jill

[missmyknee]

Hi Jill

I sincerely hope AF is not taking hold, but more importantly is your Mammogram report. I hope and pray it is a mistake or misread. Hopefully further testing will come back negative. All my prayers that this is a false read.

I glad you see Dr B on Wednesday. He will be able to determine early if it is AF or make sure you have no signs of infection.

Let us know how it goes. I will be thinking of you 

Pam

[Jill M]

Thanks for the reply Pam. I am so glad that I am going to see Dr. B this week. I took some pictures of my knee when it turns red/warm to show him. I don't know if he will be able to determine anything from the pictures but I figured it couldn't hurt to have them.

I am praying the Mammogram report is a misread as well. I plan to get the films/CD and have one of the radiologist at my hospital perform reading as well. I guess that is one of the "perks" of working in healthcare.

Jill

[Rennschnecke]

Sorry to hear about the latest woes.  It's like a never ending story ...

I hope the appointment with Dr B goes well and that your are reassured promptly.  Also hope the reading of the mammogram gets sorted out the best way for you and that the 'density' turns out to be benign.

ATB

[Jill M]

Had a good appointment with Dr. B today. He is not too concerned about the redness/heat. He thinks that scar tissue is getting pinched in the joint and then that causes bleeding.  That is why the redness/heat is intermittent as well as the pain associated with these spells.

He said that if the redness/heat would not respond to rest/ice/elevation and it persisted then he would want to get an ultrasound to determine if I had a lot of fluid (possibly blood) in the joint. That could be done locally and sent to him. He is optimistic that this will improve with time. He was pleased with flexion/extension/strenght and wants me to return to normal activites as tolerated. I don't have to return until July.

We had a nice trip up and back. When we checked in our hotel last night I noticed the postings for conferences/meetings. The orthopedic department for UM was having a meeting last evening. Talk about ironic!  Weather was warm for Michigan at this time of year with expected high near 60 degrees. People were wearing shorts around campus and even spotted a few people brave enough to drive with their convertable tops down.

Jill

[missmyknee]

Hi Jill

Sounds like you had a good report with Dr B. Did he say what would become of the scar tissue getting caught in the joint ? That's great he has released you to do regular activities. Those are the words you want to hear ! 

Where I live, everyone breaks out to the shorts and flip flops when the weather hits 30 degrees after being in the teens 

Pam

[Jill M]

Pam,
He really didn't say what would happen to that scar tissue that is getting pinches. He did say that he felt eventually the scar tissue will give up.  I sure hope so! You just never know with AF.
Jill

[Jill M]

I had my follow testing from the abnormal mammo. They did a spot film on the left breast and an ultrasound. After the testing I saw the radiologist and he reviewed my films and performed an exam. He feels that the area is a fibrotic cyst. I will have a follow up mammo and ultrasound in 6 months just to be sure.
I have developed c-diff after taking all the antibiotics a few weeks back. I thought I was in the clear but found out that I could develop this up to 2 months following antiobiotic therapy. I took the probiotic but my MD said that wouldn't really help. So it has been a miserable few days with abdominal cramping and diarrhea.   I started on Flagyl today. Hope I start to feel better soon.
Hope everyone has a great weekend.
Jill