Help not sure what to DO?

[ScottieP]

Hi, Its been two weeks today since i had medial plica's removed from both knees, all has been going quite well, my rom is good, and id moved onto the next stage of my exercises, ive been alot more mobile in this second week being able to walk about and drive, when i last sore my physio i had my bandages off as the insicions on both my legs had healed into scaps, i was advised that i had to self message the lumps of scar tissue by were the cuts below and above my knees were made, ive been doing this,but on saturday night i must have knocked of the scap above my left knee, i was massaging this one alot as i slipped on some stairs the day before and it had swollen up a little bit, since then its been leaking out like clear orange stuff, ive kept it clean and kept putting clean bandages on it but it dos nt seem to be stopping, im really worried about it now and dont know what to do? Also my quad muscles are achin on both legs in general, im worried ive over done it, any help would be great

[Holly]

Hey Scottie:

I wouldn't worry too much about the aching...that just comes from doing the rehab work.  

HOWEVER...the oozing from the incision site is NOT A GOOD SIGN!!  You very probably have a slight infection, and you MUST CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR RIGHT AWAY!!!  It's no problem to get on an antibiotic, which will clear up the problem pretty quick.  But you can't let this go.  I had the same thing with one of my incisions, saw the doctor, got on antibiotics and was cleared up within a week.  But IT WON'T GET BETTER ON IT'S OWN!  If you let it go you can develop a fever, redness and heat at the incision/infection site, and lines of redness radiating toward your heart.  THEN YOU'VE GOT REAL PROBLEMS!

Please take care of this right away.

Good luck!

Holly

[ScottieP]

Hi Holly, thank you so much for your reply, ive just got of the phone from the knee clinic where i had my operation, im waiting for the physio to arrive at lunch time who is gonna call me back, there have told me to keep my after noon free, as i'll probably have to go down to the clinic,

My other concern is ive not done my exercises today as i dont want to bend the left leg, as this will push more of that yukie stuff out, is this a problem just for today, as ive not missed doing any of my exercises, and am feelin bit guilty now that ive not done them.

Thank You again for your reply

[Kelli_Bear]

I think you are doing the right thing and keeping the affected leg quiet til you see the doc.   One day of letting it rest for now will not hurt.  And if the doc gives the thumbs up, you can exercise tonight.  I wouldn't want you to reopen the wound over and over with the bending.

Kelli

[Holly]

Scottie:

Kelli's got it right...one day off won't hurt you.  Just wait and see what the doc says.

Holly

[Gab]

Yeah definitely. Although they all say to not take PT lightly, I found that taking it easy for a day or two after experiencing pain that was due to over-working was the best medicine to get back on track.

[ScottieP]

Hi, everyone, thankyou to all that posted, ive been to see my doctor and physio, and they were happy that the fluid was just from some swelling the swelling has gone down now and the scab has healed back up and no longer leakin, my recovery seems to be going very well, my only concern is on my right knee on the inside, when bending it or doing light cycling can feel a muscle of somethin movin from one side to the other, like flicking across, not sure if this is my MCL or a muscle inbetween that and the knee cap, sometimes it can feel tight there too, i think from feeling that it attaches to my vastus medialis, but not sureanyone have any idea's i know work has been done in this area but the left knee feels fine??

[Holly]

Hey Scottie:

Glad the "oozing" turned out to be O.K. and that you're making good progress now.  As for that sensation you're talking about...my PT and my OS (who are both AWESOME) tell me that when you have significant swelling it is not unusual to feel that certain tendons and ligaments are "moving around" in unusual ways.  Basically, this is because there is only so much room in and around the knee compartment and, since the space there is now "crowded" with fluid (i.e. - swollen) the tendons and ligaments are just trying to find some place to be.  When the swelling goes down this will happen less and less and will finally stop when your knee is back to its normal size.  I know that's what happened in my case.  I had a significant "pinging"  that went from the medial/central part of my knee across to the lateral/upper part of my knee.  It drove me crazy (and, quite frankly, worried me) until they explained it to me.  When the swelling abated about a week and a half later, the "pinging" completely stopped.

Hope that's what happens in your case.  I can't guarantee that your situation is the same as mine, but it certainly sounds the same.  However, if it keeps doing that and it bothers you or worries you, I would absolutely suggest you consult with your PT and/or your OS.  Again, I'm NOT a doctor!

Good luck, and hope you continue to feel better!

Holly