Anyone for a Knees up

Had my appointments with physio and the consultant today,

Physio seems happy with my progress despite SWMBO telling him I'm not doing my exercises (I am, it's just Im doing the minimum recommended), I can now bend my knee between 50 and 70 degrees on my own - or 80 degrees with a little painful help from the physio. I have been told to keep up with the exercises.

The consultant however has told me additional information, he's not happy with the tissue and scar damage in my knee, this is what is causing pain and stopping my knee bending to its full capacity (around 140 degrees),

My consultant has worked with Derby County players apparently football players with knee injuries have £150k worth of physio and spend 8 HOURS A DAY doing so, this is why they get better quicker,

Therefore in order for me to get better as soon as possible, I need to spend as much time as I can doing my physio. if there's no progress made within the next 2-3 weeks then I'll need to go back into hospital and have my knee "Manipulated"...

of course I had to ask what this meant...

Another epidural or General anaesthetic - once this kicks in, the surgeon simply bends my knee "for me".

OW-"f'kin"-CH was my response

To avoid more time in the lovely Nuffield, I have decided to do as much physio as time, my knee, and my daughter will allow.

On a positive though, my PICC line has now been removed, so I no longer need my daily 4 nurse visits. I'm onto tablets for 3 weeks - again no beer, Im wasting away with the lack of alcohol.

Knee Surgery Videos

As promised, here are the videos from my arthroscopies & knee flushes. I'm not sure if these are suitabe for the squeamish, I think they're ok, but hey, it's my knee so I would.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Video 1

Video 2

Video 3

Video 4

Day 10 - Good and Bad News

The consultant came to see me this morning, he is happy with my recovery as long as my CRP continues to drop. He actually mentioned going home (for the first time), to continue my treatment, and this may even be as soon as Sunday or Monday. I will need to have the PICC line put in which I had decided on anyway. I should hopefully be starting my physio in the next couple of days.

My CRP results came back - 96 - Yesssss !!!!!

The RMO (Resident Medical Officer - Doctor that Lives onsite) came to discuss the PICC line insertion, it involves a local anaethetic then a little cut where they put a tube in, followed by the line itself, he mentioned this will either be in my groin, my chest or my neck (CHEST PLEASE). These lines can stay in for up to 90 days although they prefer 30 days, either way they should really only need to put one of these in, my veins are saved...

So far the day went well, I even managed a shower - Took ages but I didn't care, I AM RECOVERING !!!

As my veins are now well and truly shot, I had to have one of my antibiotics via an injection (in my arse) this worried me, Gentamicin has to be given slowly by IV, otherwise you can go deaf and it's irreversible - but this is not the case via injection as the muscles soak it up, but also means it's not as effective.

The anaesthatist came to see me at 5.30pm, he explained it goes in via the top of the arm (phew) and I will be going down within the next 30 minutes.

I went down to theatre at 6.00pm got prepped and the anaesthatist started....

Then comes the bad news

... 2 hours and 14 attempts later, he stopped, he had tried every vein he could find using an ultrasound machine but they were all thrombosed (blocked), he was unable to thread the tube through therefore unable to put the PICC Line in.

What is it with me, I had a tiny chance of getting the staphylococcus infection in the first place, then the "easy" procedure of getting a PICC Line is not possible. Apparently being part afro-carribean means my sink and veins are thicker than normal, (great for the aging process, shit for venal work) :-(

I am now waiting until tomorrow for a radiologist to put the line in via a different method. Whoever had their fingers crossed for me before, please do it for me tomorrow,

My arms are killing and full of little cuts, and still I'm having to have the IV antibiotics via a cannula which is red, sore, swollen and hurts like mad.

But Daddy will be home to see Leah and SWMBO - whatever it takes.....

Daddy's coming home

Day 7 - Part 2
Above are some nice gory photos from today, the first one is the hole from my first drain and the second is my bandaged knee still with the drain in and the last is the drian by itself, which was removed today, and hurt like a bitch...

On a plus side, the swelling and pain seems to have reduced, however I have spoken to my consultant tonight, my CRP has gone up to 243 which was to be expected after the operation (and there's only a small increase at that).

I still have what is called "septic athritis" (Which isn't the same as rheumatoid or Osteo- Arthitis), we should get the test results of samples taken yesterday from microbilogy which, along with the blood tests for CRP, will show whats next in the story.

Tonight though, I'm happy...

EDIT 15 August
Looked at my states and someone looked on my site by googling for do doctors put you to sleep when they drain fluid from the knee?
The answer is yes and no, I had a needle drain without any anaesthetic on 2 occasions had 2 washouts under local and 2 under general. needles in the knee quite 'kin hurt...

Knee Update

3 weeks on, I am still in agony with my knee, luckily thanks to my company healthcare, I managed to get referred to a consultant at the local private hospital, a 2 week wait and today was my appointment.

8.45am - appointment with the consultant, who advised I would need an MRI Scan as he thinks it may be lose cartilage in my knee (Meniscus Tear), he doubts it is ligament issues or "I'd know about it".

MRI scan arranged for 12.30 TODAY - now that is fast

I have now had the MRI scan and although not obvious from the scans, the consultant believes it is what he first thought, so I have to have some keyhole surgery (Arthroscopy) to sort it.


Booked in for next Saturday.

I must say I am very impressed with private healthcare, and nervous of having my first ever "operation".