Chills

[Chiswick]

I had a knee replacement and am also on dialysis. After 6 months my knee got infected and I had it removed and a new one put back in 6 months. It got reinfected again and I had it cleaned out and then still again its infected. I am on vancomycin for the rest of my life once a week at dialysis. Why do I have chills and when my knee is in movement I cannot walk on it and I get back pain from movement when I try to walk on my knee? I use a walker aro9und the house but if I go out to the grocery store I have to have a wheelchair and a caregiver. Why am I having pain on movement on my knee and all through my back.
Thank you. 

PS:  My surgeon asked me if I wanted to have the whole replacement taken out - wouldn't that be worse having a peg leg?  Another doctor said just take the leg off.  Isn't that kind of ironic?
 

[jbeany]

Take the leg off?  Geez, how fast can you hobble to another doc for a second opinion?!  Ya know, that Bible verse about what to do if your right hand offends you wasn't really meant to be taken literally....

My guess on the back pain is the strain of trying to compensate for the way you have to walk now.  Sounds like it would put you out of alignment in a hurry.  Maybe a chiropractor might help?  All I can suggest on the knee is a new doctor.

When I was experiencing constant pain from my failing kidneys, every time I overdid it and pushed myself, I'd start shaking like crazy.  It would get so bad my teeth would chatter.  It's sort of a signal that I was way past my limits.  Perhaps your chills are the same?

[Traveller1947]

Hi, Chiswick!  What you're going through in the aftermath of something you thought would improve your life is horrible.  Can you ask your surgeon more about his thinking as to removing the knee replacement?   Maybe, if he removes it, the infection would have a better chance of clearing up.  Once it's completely clear, he could put in a new one.  Some months of wheelchair living, which is miserable I know, but a future with much less suffering.
The chills you're having maybe part of the infection process.  The back pain, as jbeany described, is probably because you have to compensate for the knee.  Down the road, physical therapy can help you with that problem.

If it were me, I would concentrate first on getting rid of the infection, and if that means taking out the whole replacement, so be it.  Just my considered opinion...all the best to you, Chiswick.

[Chris]

jbeany hit the nail on te head regarding the pain from what I was taught for my orthotics and prosthetics class and from personal experience.
 
As Traveller mentioned, ask more questions to the surgeon. Removing the rest of the implant would be best to get rid of the infection, but I am not sure how they would stabilize your leg other than a hard cast or some sort of leg brace. Again tho ask your surgeon.
 
Good Luck