Septic Arthritis
I'm currently in the hospital with a septic knee as I am writing this. My knee started to hurt all the way back in September. I've had multiple cortisone shots, x-rays, and the knee drained three weeks ago of 30ml with elevated white cell numbers. On Friday night, I had over a 103-degree fever and stabbing pain. It is the most painful thing I have ever endured and it did not show up on x-rays.
Septic arthritis in the knee
More people need to be made aware of this danger if doctors don't take us more seriously. Because they didn't see anything in the x-ray, the hospital wasn't even sure if they were going to have anyone look at it, but I insisted. An orthopedic doctor finally came down and took out 60ml of pure puss-filled fluid. I had to go to surgery from there. I'm sitting here four days later, still can't move the knee, with the threat of another surgery if I can't get it going.
Taking symptoms seriously
Three weeks ago I asked for help, but there was no, "follow-through" even when I asked if it was needed. If I would have waited any longer it would have been the end of my knee and possibly life. It was that infected. I need others to hear my story because so many have knee issues and we need to advocate harder for ourselves.
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