KNEE ARTHRITIS - Total Knee Replacement :
Total Knee Replacement - HELP! - - Posted by JoshieBella (JoshieBella), 14 April 2004
Hi. We're in need of some help. My boyfriend had an injury as a 10 yr old child when a boulder fell on his leg and severed his growth plate and broke his femur. He is now 33yrs old. He had 14 surgeries to try to correct this problem and was doing fine since the last surgery for 3 years. He had an injury at work which accelerated the need for surgery and had a Total Knee Replacement on 11/4/03.
He was discharged home from the Rehab facility he was at and we noticed that he really wasnt healing properly and fluid was leaking from the areas that werent healing. They tested the fluid and nothing. Due to the history of surgeries and the scar tissue they had to do a calf flap and skin graphing to close the incision and of course they "power washed" the knee with antibiotics. They also swabbed the joint and it tested positive for Staph MRSA. This was done exactly one month later on 12/4/03. He had a pic line in him for 6 weeks and then went to 2 months of oral anitbiotcs. His blood tests have since been clean of infections
It is now April and he is not having any progress at all with the knee. In therapy he can only bend his leg 10 degrees on his own. With manipulation they can get it to 70 degrees. The doctor said thats most likely all he'll ever get out of that knee. However, he is loosing mobility in the knee and is now down to 45 degrees with manipulation.
Just 2 weeks ago we watched that leg flare up and start to swell and turn red right in front of our eyes. It hurt even to the touch. Of course, we rushed to the ER thinking INFECTION again but they tried to aspirate it and no fluid came through. We even went to his Ortho doctor and he tried to aspirate it and got nothing. They think it was torn scar tissue but that only lasts 2-3 days and he still is in agony.
He has lived each day of his life in pain since the initial injury as a child but he said that the pain he is feeling now is worse than he ever felt in his life. I feel so bad for him because there is nothing I can do for him. He really cannot even walk. At this point in time no one knows what we can do. We are trying to get in to the Hospital for Special Surgery in NYC but due to the "HMO" type of insurance we have they dont see us as a candidate to come there.
I guess what Im looking for is some help. Is there anyone else out there that has had something like this? He really needs someone to talk to that has been through this kind of thing. He knows Im here for him but I dont think its the same and I know he doesnt either. I have not lived a life of pain and I know I really dont understand what he is going through. I feel so helpless and Im hoping that by putting this out there this could be my way of helping him.
I love him so much and I want to do something for him. I am in this with him 100%. Any help or assistance you guys can give would be so greatly appreciated. Thank You!
Posted by Nettan (Nettan), 14 April 2004
Hey !!
You said they've tried to aspirate but have anyone done Mri or maybe a diagnostic scope to really find out what's going on ? Is he on something for pain ? Has he got antiinflammatories ? Maybe the knee just need sometime with noone touching it. No injections, surgery and so on.I live with constant severe pain in my left knee and have had it for about 6½ years now, so I really can understand how this affect on him and on the family. Has he been tested for what kind of meds or treatment which reduce his pain ? A painmanagement clinic can do that. I started up wih my knee also beeing young and after some accidents I know have a nervpain which can't be solved by any surgery at all in my knee.
My knee gets worse for everything they do with it. Check this out what kind of pain he has because sometimes surgery isn't the best solution. Can he walk or is he on crutches ? Please let me know more.
Nettan 
Posted by JoshieBella (JoshieBella), 15 April 2004
Thanks for the reply
He is on percoset, which he takes often. He did not have an MRI nor anti-inflammatory meds. We went to his ortho again yesterday and they tried to aspirate it again and nothing came up! The doctor believes that it is still infected and sent us for more blood work. The last time with the Staph MRSA they tested the fluid that they were able to aspirate and it came up negative. The way that they found it was during the calf flap surgery when they swabbed the joint. The docttor feels that its most likely still in there. He did mention cutting again for a swab. I just dont know anymore!
He is in such agony, his knee is sooo hot to the touch. You should see this thing. I wish there was a way that i could post the picture of it in this post. ITS NASTY! The knee area looks like 1 & 1/2 softballs are in there, most of that is from the calf muscle on the knee. He was just cringing in pain. Its so excruciating. He wont try other meds. Hes scared of addiction and would rather not take anything stronger. The doctor offered him other meds yesterday but Todd denied them.
I just lost it about 5 min ago. I am so helpless here and there is NOTHING I can do. I felt bad because I was trying to hold that cry in so hard that it blew out!
He is walking with a crutch. He has lost mobility in his leg. He went from 70-45 degrees for bending. He cannot walk without the crutch.
Doctor said yesterday something about possibly removing the knee and fusing the leg - so we are both freaking out!
Posted by Nettan (Nettan), 15 April 2004
Hey again !!
Is there only one doc who has looked at him ? Maybe you need someone else to look at him. There must be other solution's than that one the doc mentioned.
A second even third opinion isn't wrong if your insurance allows that.
Wish I could do more for you, feel so for you.
Please continue mail me.
Lots of hugs and thoughts from me to you Nettan
Updated Sat Nov 21 2009
