Knee Replacement Infection

okckeith

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Joined
Apr 24, 2007
Messages
223
Age
62
Location
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Bike
2017 Triumph Trophy
I had my knee replacement done 02-08-2016. On 09-17-25 while on vacation in Washington D.C., I developed an infection in my knee replacement. Went to the ER 09-18-25. I had emergency surgery on 09-19-25. They flushed it out with antibiotics and replaced the plastic in there. I spent a week in University of Maryland Hospital. Tammi drove us back to Oklahoma City. I had to ride in the back seat of my truck laying down to get comfortable. Got home In two days on Friday night. I called first thing Monday morning trying to get into University of Oklahoma Hospital where I had my knee replacement done in 2016 and first knee surgery in 2004. I need to get right back on IV antibiotics. They said the couldn’t get me in for several weeks. I spent 2 more nights at another hospital. They set me up with an Orthopedic Dr and Infectious Disease Dr. I was back on IV antibiotics again. Two weeks ago my Orthopedic Dr pulled some of the infection from my knee and sent it to Baltimore, Maryland for testing. Infection is still there. So 12-12-25 I will have surgery to remove my knee replacement. They will put in a spacer that has antibiotics in it. And back on IV antibiotics for 6 more weeks or until infection is resolved. Then another surgery to put in a brand new knee replacement. This will make 7 surgeries on this knee.
 
This sounds awful. I hope the surgery on the 12th gets it all (the infection part) rectified once and for all.
 
I talked with a buy a few years ago that had something like that happen. It's not fun. I'll pray for you and your wife to get through this ordeal.

Any idea how the infection got started?

Chris
 
Daboo said:
Any idea how the infection got started?
Click to expand...
From what he says, the initial surgery was done in 2016 and the infection showed up 9 years later. I doubt the docs will be able to figure this one out. I had a friend who visited a relative in the hospital (Cleveland Clinic). Two days later he had red lines running up and down his arm. It was a staph infection that required iv antibiotics, several days in the hospital and several weeks of recovery. He told me the docs had no idea how he picked it up - no scratches, broken skin, etc.

When I was in my 30's, my knees swelled up, a doc took a cup of fluid out of one knee, and half as much out of the other. For 6 weeks I hobbled around like an old man (sorry guys, no slight intended). I could barely walk across a street. I saw an arthritis doc, orthopod, infectious disease guy, they poked and drained me and analyzed my juices and nobody had any idea what happened. The infect. disease guy said it could have been a reaction to a bug I picked up and kicked. Idiopathic origin they said (aka idk). Scary stuff at age 30.

@okckeith, I hope you recover completely. Sorry you are going through all this.
 
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Having had my knees replaced as well, I live in a certain amount of fear about infections too. I try to meticulously clean and dress every little scratch no matter where it is on my body.
 
If you're trying to keep up with Uncle Phil, he's got a pretty good head start :giggle:

It is strange that this infection reared its ugly head after so many years. Hopefully, removal and antibiotics will do the trick. You have a good lady to nurse you back to health. Take care brother.
Mike
 
That really sucks Keith. Hope things get straightened out for you and you get back to riding .
 
Keep on doing what's necessary Keith. Bad to hear it's taking so long but I know you will get it all fixed up and be back to kickin some arKansas twisties soon.

Will this make you Bionic or just a Six million dollar man?
 
Yes UP this is the second time I have had an infection in that knee. First one was November of 2016. I was at work working my 12 hr night shift. Towards the end of my shift I started to feel cold. It was warm that day and cooled down over night. Turned on the heater at work. Turned the heater in the truck on high on the way home. Got home and couldn’t warm up. Took my temp. It was 103 I think. Went to my doctor. By this time my knee was throbbing. He sent me to the emergency room. I spent a week in the hospital on IV antibiotics. I was fine until it hit me this time. This infection was septic. Perfectly fine on Tuesday. Couldn’t put wait on it by Wednesday night. I was not running a temperature this time.
 
Good Grief! Hang in there, Keith. Just hope this doesn't put off your retirement date!! We need you healthy so we can ride together again.
 
Wow it just keeps coming. I have a brother that had colon cancer and has to wear a catheter to urinate. He's been having bladder infections on and off for some 13 years. The secret as you know is to keep on being positive and forward looking. You beat an terrible illness before so you know how to fight it. Get better so we can see you again at Tennessee in June. Prayers are with you.
 
Kieth hope you get well soon. A friend of mines wife had knee replacements many years ago and she kept getting infections. they ended up remove the replacement like you and put in a block of antibiotics. this lasted a year I think. they called it good and put a new knee in. She got another infection. What they eventually found was that she had sepsis, and is know on a life time of antibiotics. She no longer has issues, the knees are fine, but it took years for the doctors to fine out she has sepsis. She was even at Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN.

Hope things improve, get well soon.
 
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