Rose M.

I am a 64 yr old nurse. I had a total knee revision on 3/31/23. Everything went well. At my two week follow up, my MD commented on how well I was walking and bending my knee. I was released to drive and return to work as I have a sit down job. The next day, I woke up with significant pain in my leg and it was swelling. I thought maybe a DVT. (Sepsis and Joint Replacements)

I told my daughter who thought that maybe I let my pain get ahead of me. When she left my room I just knew I had to go to the hospital. I called EMS. Upon arrival to the ER, my temp was above 103. They couldn’t get venous access. The swelling was getting so bad the the would was starting to open up and ooze. One nurse kept telling me ma’am you are very sick.

I had emergency surgery to clean out the wound and they only replaced the plastic bushing to the knee. I stayed in the hospital for 5 days, hallucinating, but not in ICU. My blood pressure was 70/40. I went home with a PICC line and IV antibiotics twice a day for 6 weeks. I am now on antibiotics for the rest of my life. All of my blood work is normal and I have not had any complications. The hardest thing for me is the PTSD, anxiety and insomnia. I am still struggling with pain as I also have hip problems on the same leg as the knee. I was told this week that I need a hip replacement. This has really triggered my PTSD as I am concerned about getting sepsis again. I am on a dance team and love it. I was cleared to dance about a month ago, I wanted and needed to be with my friends, but I may have pushed myself too hard.