Can any body help me. I had a total knee replacement on August 22nd 2014, in that time I have lost three and a half stone, if I had been slim the doctors would be worried but because I was over weight they don't seem to want to do anything. I can't eat more than a couple of mouthfulls and then I am sick. I feel like I have flu all the time, I start shivering then sweat runs down my face and back and I go hot. My foot is like a ballon and painfull and the back of my leg is really hard. I haven't DVT it was checked three months ago. I had an infection in the wound the week after the operation and was given three lots of antibiotics and the nurses came for two weeks to change the dressing. I itch all over at night but haven't a rash.
I am allergic to nickle and elastoplast. I have been to the doctors at least once a fortnight but get absolutely nowhere, The pain in my leg is so bad I am now on morphine. I am 74 years old and my husbands carer, I have had no help and honestly don't know how much longer I can keep going like this. The only thing I can think of is that I am allergic to something in the knee. I would be most grateful for any advice.
Hi Eve
So sorry to hear this. I am no medical doctor, but from the symptoms you are describing it sounds like your body is still fighting some kind of infection? A blood sample and test should confirm this? I would get a second opinion, from another doctor if necessary, and the sooner the better. You may also want to consider presenting at emergency at a nearby hospital, as you usually get seen faster and I have found from personal experience, that the team in emergency will investigate better than some basic General Practicioner. Don't just let this go, get help soon.
Best Regards, Paul
I would insist they do a complete blood workup. Not to bore all those that are long timers here but my story is: I have pvns (a tumor) that ate up my original tkr and forced a revision. The day after surgery I fell and broke my femur and had to have a 2nd surgery to insert a plate and screws. I healed and rehabed fine but several months later the plate and hardware had to be removed. Its a simple outpatient surgery that went well and rehab was going fine. 30 days later all hell broke loose. High fever, nausea and uncontrollable pain. 6 hrs of e.r. tests and staph was diagnosed. Back to surgery, reopen the entire wound and then 2 months of infusion antibiotics daily, then to pill form antibiotics for nearly a year and, chances are, will be on them for the rest of my life. Incidentally, i'll be 78 next month and I'm the caregiver for my wife who is in advanced stages of Parkinson's so have complete empathy for you and your situation. You have too much on your plate to not have assurances that the docs have done all the basics and then some. Morphine itself can cause terrible stomach distress if you can't take it and many people can't. There are a number of drugs for pain that can be interchanged till they find something. I know its difficult but try to get plenty of rest. The body can't heal without rest and fluids. Talk to yourvdoc about by our mental state. Surgeons operate and often times that's the extent of their expertise. They just assume everyone is a text book case and don't want to bothered with anything else. Stay on here with this group. They will become your friends, advisors, confidants and take a deep personal interest in you because at ones level or another, they have been there and understand. Blessings and best wishes.
Wow Eve...what a nightmare. I totally agree with OFG (love that name haha!!) anyway...I would definitely get a second opinion. It sounds to me like your surgeon isn't listening to you anymore. Best wishes to you....!
Time to start banging the table methinks. Insist on seeing the consultant or a member of the team. Ask to see a different GP. Anything to get you back in the system. I don't know how heavy you are but the less you weigh is better for the knee. Of course losing weight because of continual vomiting is not good. Another reason to be challenging your doctor.
Oh Eve
poor you ...it sounds terrible and I can't believe you're getting no help
how could your Doctors treat you so badly ...are you in The UK if so I would go to the hospital emergency.
i am nearly 18 weeks post op and still having terrible pain in this knee and leg last night I could happily have chopped my leg off.
i haven't lost weight like you but I too have been thinking about being allergic to something in the knee.
my Op was September 4th
it's essential that you keep pestering the Surgeon and your Doctor you most definitely need help
have you any family who can push this for you?
Please go back to your GP, if you can - burst into tears in front of him to guilt trip him into sorting you out. The hospital where I had mine done did say I could go there anytime I felt something was wrong (I did go back & was re-admitted due to a hematoma), maybe you could go there? Morhine reduces your appetite - I have lost 11lbs on it - which is so good for the leg, but as I'm weaning myself off it, no doubt the weight will creep back on. You really must keep on at them - no-one should suffer like you are doing. I have a feeling none of us were actually told what to expect, I certainly didn't, but this forum is such a help.
Hi there eve, what an absolute nightmare you are going through, I had my op on the 7th of August, and like you I have lost a lot of weight. Nearly 2stone, I have no fancy for food which is alien for me. But you seem to have something else going on here and I strongly advise you to insist on further tests. I am still getting pain and stiffness in my knee but I can walk unaided . I am nowhere near being back to my old self, both emotionally and physically. I am 82 and feel that this op has taken away my love of life. Please seek further help, I wish you well eve and will watch for your further posts.
Hi Tucks
i'm struggling too
I went out earlier and I was so glad to get back in the house.
i've lost my confidence and feel as if everyone is thinking ...look at that poor old dear.... I was going to empty the shopping trolley into the boot of the car and one of the Male workers came ove to assist me ....I know it was lovely of him ..but why now ?
it never happened before i had this TKR
land that's my moan for the day
Jean
Hi jean, soo glad I'm not the only one feeling like this, really can't understand what's going on, like you I feel so fragile haven't been outside the door for the past 2days. I do need to go shopping so will have to brave it tomorrow.if we were confident enough to have the op, why are we still feeling like this? I am desperately trying to feel posotive but its just not happening, as nice as people are out there in shops ect. I want to be able to do things on my own, I really am fed up jean take care, wish their was a magic wand out there x
I quite agree with you
i was such a confident outgoing person before this Op it feels as if it's amputated my confidence somehow
i too only go out when I have too ...my home has now become my refuge
and my recliner chair my best friend
perhaps it's because it's Winter here I'm sure if I'd had the Op in the Summer I'd have been pottering around the garden ( I'm definitely a Sun worshiper)
but ....things can only get better
take care Tucks
Jean
Jean, I wrote a little story about an outing in Korea a few years
Did I send it to you or accidentally delete it
I can't find it
I think you must have deleted it as I can't remember reading it
Jean....your restaurant expeirience made me think of my experience in Korea a few years ago. A few months after I had my 1st 3 knee surgeries and radiation and before my tkr we were spending a month with son and family in Seoul. My son planned an interesting weekend in and around Yeosoe that included a 4 hour train ride and the rest of the day on a small tour bus. The weekend had been meticiousily planned by my sons secretary with a strict caveat that all arrangements had to be western style because of my knee and leg. Saturday night we checked into the modern (50's modern resplendent with pink, green and black tile and a huge blinking neon sign outside our window). When we got to the room, more Korean luxury, no beds, just yos. When they found my son was fluent in Korean and was Pres/CEO pf a large local company they decided they would make arrangements for a bed while were out for dinner................dinner, the soon to be highlight of the weekend. It was late when the tour guide got us to the restaurant, a pure Korean establishment, oil cloth/vynil covered wall to wall mat and 8" high tables. It was getting late and no chance of finding a western type seating place. Trying to be a good sport I agreed to try and work it out. somehow I managed to get to the floor an sit with my bad leg out straight and get half way comfortable. Then came the grand finale. After an hour and half meal, 3 or 4 of the cheap but powerful Korean rice beers it was time to go. My son had informed both the management and tour bus driver that I would need help getting to my feet so here they came. I was trying to get some leverage with my stocking feet but each time I would slip. It soon became obvious 100 pair of Korean eyes were turning in my direction. =14px As I looked around it=14px =14pxtwo guys helping me decided they needed help so called another employee. Now with 3 of them tugging , pushing and pulling on my 6'1", 220 lb frame. I am just starting to make progress when the planted foot slips again and I damn near crush all 3 of those Korean fellow while my audience was doing everything humanly possible to keep from convulsing. Finally... in a drenching sweat and I'm on my feet. I gave a polite Asian bow and headed for the door, trying not to stumble on that soft, slick floor. They were so polite but I'm sure as soon as we exited the place broke out in a roar. So, with that, don't ever worry about how you appear to the rest of the patrons in a restaurant as long as you can get upright and get out of there. To this day my son cannot tell the story without getting tears of laughter in his voice.
Sorry OFG but I too have tears of lUghter in my eyes
my experience was nothing compared to yoursYou really ought to write a book about your life's experiences it would definitely be a good read.
its 3-10 am here and I'm on my usual nightly wake up I will no doubt fall asleep again soon.
this Forum is a god send to read in the wee small hours of the morning.
Jean
I managed to see the consultant today and asked for a blood test, for metals and cement in my knee, they already knew I was allergic to nickel before the operation.and his reply was there isn't one, I told him I had read about them on the net, he sent me for blood tests, so I said to the nurse do you do a test for metals, oh yes we do, I told her what the consultant had said, her reply was perhaps there isn't one for your metals, ( covering for him). I am sure he was lying to me.
I have an appointment with my doctor tomorrow, so I will let him know what happened and see if he can arrange a metal blood test for me.
I can almost imagine what you have been and are still going through.
My husband is 83, he has vascular dementia, essential tremor which is very bad in his right hand and has now gone to his right, soon he won't be able to feed himself, he also has a bad heart he had a stent fitted last year but his arteries were too blocked for the second one.
By the evening I am absolutely drained. My sons keep telling me to rest more but I am a bit of a clean freak. and can't keep still longer than ten minutes. At night I dont sleep longer than two hours at a time, it' is like a vicious circle. I have had depression since I was 18 years old but had been much better for the last two years.
I am going to see my doctor tomorrow. Will update you.
Yes Jean I am in the UK. I have sons but I don't think they realise quite how ill I feel, now is the time when I wish I had a daughter for a bit of TLC.
I have thought about going to emergency but I was there three times last year, twice with pancreatitus caused by taking prednesilone for twelve years and once for my heart going into overdrive 170. I was kept in which meant my husband was left on his own and I was so worried about him I asked them to let me go home, which they did.
I am going to see my doctor tomorrow so I will keep you updated.
Thank you for your post, I find that food tastes horrible, I have no interest in things, I can't be bothered with TV, my knitting or cross stitch. I have a very short temper with myself when things don't go right the first time.
I can walk unaided around the house but find my walker with the seat very handy, especially in the kitchen, I can sit an peel vegetables and wash and dry up.
I looked younger than my age before the operation but now I look at least ten years older, I have black circles under my eyes and they have really sunk back,
I am going to see my doctor tomorrow, so I will update you.
Hangvin there and stay firm with them. Most of the prosthesis is tungsten but you never can tell what else sneaks in there. A friend if ours had hip surgery and it was rejected by the body. Unfortunately her age and some other conditions won't allow a revision. She has had to move into an assisted living complex......very plush but still not her home.