Tip a Day. Do you Have a Knee Replacement? Other Joint Replacement? Do You Need to Take an Antibiotic With You Just in Case You Should Need Emergency Surgery or Dental Work?
Four years ago I finally had a knee replacement. I say “finally” because I should have done it at least five years sooner but life got in the way. Plus, I needed someone to be around to help if I needed it. After taking a day of vigorous hiking in the Lake Tahoe area, the next day we and our friends decided to take a short walk around a small lake in the area before we headed home. The area was completely flat but somehow I managed to slip on a rock and I literally saw stars.
At that time I was about seventeen years younger than I am now. Still in my fifties. I thought my knee would feel better in time but it didn’t. It kept getting progressively worse until I had a series of steroid shots which helped for several years. I had a brace made but eventually, I had pain in each step but I kept going. My doctor said I would know when it was time. I thought I had time until there was no time left. On a flight home from Europe my knee locked in a not quite forty-five-degree position and I had excruciating pain for nearly eleven hours.
Once home, I was afraid to walk or drive anywhere by myself since I never knew when my knee would lock. I had to wait a few months until the surgeon I wanted could fit me into his schedule. The operation was a success and now I walk straight without pain. Wish I had done this a lot sooner. It was totally worth it.
My doctor has indicated that I should take a Clindamycin (Cleocin) an hour prior to any significant dental work and if I were to need any surgery the surgeon should know that I needed to take an antibiotic to avoid infection.
Out of an abundance of caution, I now take the antibiotic with me when traveling. I don’t want to risk any problems with my knee replacement. I certainly don’t want to risk infection or having to have another replacement. The recovery wasn’t a walk in the park. Hopefully, on trips there won’t be any emergencies requiring surgery or a dental procedure but I want to be prepared.
In general, it is recommended that precautions should be taken for a minimum of two years after total joint replacement to reduce the risk of infection around the implant.
Some people who have had joint replacements might need to use antibiotic prophylaxis for the rest of their lives depending on other medical conditions and the type of surgery required,
Bottom line: If you’ve had a joint replacement and plan to travel call your doctor and ask if you need to take antibiotics with you.
