Knee Infection

On Wednesday (11.29.17) I had lunch with Paula, have this great chicken curry at Tommy's.  Head down the hill and make my first stop at Grocery Outlet.  Feel an ache in my knee.  Rub it and keep walking.  In the store, the ache becomes more annoying but again, just grab it for a bit and on I went.  Went to go pick up Abby from practice, pull up my pants and see that it is a little red and swollen.  Thought it will go away, was feeling tired so didn't give it too much thought.  Get home and swelling gets worse and painful.  Need to lie down.  Put on a patch at bedtime.

Morning...pain seems a little better, patch worked?  But more red and pretty warm.  Had a chiropractor appointment so I asked Chip.  He said, prolly infection.  No signs of bug bite marks so prolly not that.  If it don't get better in 3 days see doc.

Friday... decided to get seen.  Just in case it gets worse over weekend and they're closed.  Plus had read if infection spreads, it could get serious.  Better safe than sorry.  He prescribed Doxycycline Hyclate 100mg, a tetracycline antibiotic.  10 day dose.  Its supposed to stop the growth of bacteria.  No dairy (no calcium and minerals) within 2-3 hrs.  And a Methylprednisolone 4mg steroid.  Pharmacist says this is pretty potent.  6 days at specific times.  Some of the side effects were pretty scary.  Change in personality, mental/mood changes, problems thinking/seeing.  Looking up both drugs, so far haven't come across any alcohol interactions except that the steroid may cause dizziness and alcohol could increase dizziness.

Saturday morning..  has taken first dose of antibiotics last night.  Reddening gone down a little, swelling and pain still there.  Started the steroids this morning.

Day 5:  Got a little better at the beginning of treatment but seemed to plateau.  Ran into Marlin at the dump.  My thought was I have knee bursitis and that's why antibiotics not really working.  Marlin thought it might be some sort of inflammation in the patella.  He advised I continue with my antibiotics as prescribed for 10 days and then go back if not better.  Everything seem to fit that I have "housmaid's knee" when I look back and remember getting sharp pain in my knee when I clean floors.

Day 10 (Dec 11):  Finished antibiotics, still somewhat red, swollen, and warm.  Been having occasional sharp pain in the knee, mostly dull pain.  Pain sometimes goes down to side of heel and side of lower leg.  Halfway feels like nerve pain?  Saw Dr. Browning again, he says it takes time, given we are older now.  I mentioned the pain and he said, you said it didn't hurt last time.  I thought the pain was caused by the swelling and with the meds it will go away.   He sounded like I should just give it time to heal.  Anyways, he ordered an xray and took blood again for a CBC (complete blood count) which hopefully will show if I have arthritis or not.  So going down to Hemet to get xray later today.  Dr. B doesn't seem to think its bursitis.  He says bursitis usually doesn't get red, just swollen.

Dec. 20:  Went back to doctor for x-ray results.  Findings:  "No acute fracture, dislocation, narrowing of joint space or opaque foreign body is seen.  3mm calcified density projecting to the middle of knee joint is possibly a loose body."  Impression:  "Possible 3mm loose body in knee joint.  Otherwise unremarkable exam."  So Dr. B decides to order an MRI.

Jan. 22:  Went in for MRI.  Pain intensity thus far varies depending on day.  Most days not too bad, mainly dull ache that gets stronger at times.  Occasional what feels like nerve pain down into foot, mainly outside heel area but sometime moves to middle area of foot.   About one week ago pain caused me to walk slower, pain ran up entire leg.  Was the day Sage went back to SDSU and we looked at his new apartment.   MRI tech noticed inflammation but didn't seem to see any loose bodies, though she mentions she's not a radiologist.

Feb. 26:  Went in for Ortho consult with Chris Alexander in Temecula.  He said possible synovial fluid built up, or loose cartilage flap.  Knee "grinds" when bending/flexing so he suggested arthroscopy to look around and see what's going on.  Said MRI didn't show loose body but MRIs don't get everything.  Overall knee is 'remarkable'. Had my issue only been a few weeks he would of suggested to wait and see if there's improvement but since its been about three months we decided to go ahead with the arthroscopy, scheduled for April 20.

Late March:  Find out Ortho is no longer in my network.  He needed to renew his contract so I wait a little before the pre-op appointment in early April.  Still not renewed so cancelled procedure.  Will work on gait and see if things get better over summer.  If not, will find another ortho.

April 23:  Woke up with some knee pain.  Hurts to walk up/down stairs but adjusting which foot goes first, I was fine.   Pain seems to get less as the day went on.  Passed out on 4/21, don't remember if I fell onto my knees.  Small cut on right knee I don't remember when it got there.  Seems random.

April 24:  Woke up with swollen knee and a lot of pain to put any weight on knee.  Knee not red, slightly warm but not hot like back in Nov.  Got crutches and ibuprofen which helped and I was able to move around.  Iced/elevated before work and after.   Took ibuprofen before bed.  Knee area hurt in most positions, trying to sleep.  Best position seemed to be to hang off side of bed and let foot touch floor.  Pain in back of knee, (inside) side, down shin, and lower thigh (in front).

April 25:  Still swollen but less pain.  Was able to clean library this morning.  Can walk without support but slowly/cautiously.  Vacuuming was possible with crutch.  Slight twist in knee causes pain.  9:30am, sitting at computer.  Pain in front of knee (knee cap?) and calves.