Worse and worse 5 days post ACL Reconstruction

[dalhousieu]

I completely tore my left ACL a year ago and the doctor did the ACL reconstruction (Patella) for me 5 days ago. Starting the second day after the surgery I got a fever (between 38.5 and 39.5 degree) but today the fever seems like is gone. I also got swelling and a little bit pain of my knee and my lower leg for the first couple of days. At the third day after surgery I removed the bondage and I applied ice wrap to my leg then now the swelling is gone too.

Everything above seems OK but I gradually got a huge problem, the lower leg pain. It only appears when I try to stand up. At that time it feels like the blood suddenly fills into my leg and somehow stings my nerves like millions of nails. I did not notice this pain before I removed my bondage, but after I did that, the pain continuously increases. Yesterday the pain was noticeable but all I need to do is taking a couple of deep breathes then I could walk with crutches, but today the pain is unbearable. If I lie down the pain is totally gone, and if I sit up carefully the pain is somehow OK. I just cannot stand up for even 5 seconds. I was a soccer player and I have 3 broken bones in my body, so please believe me, if I said it is unbearable, it is unbearable.

Now my lower leg skin is hot, red, shining, and painful if touching it. A large part of my lower leg skin has changed its color to dark red/ green/ brown/ purple.(obviously there are some ?dead? blood under there). But like I said, it is not swelling anymore.
I am worrying about this but I did some searching online and I did not find any similar case as mine, and it is weird that things can go worse and worse after the surgery. I am not sure if my case can be related to DVT blood clot, but I was told it is very rare to happen after an ACL reconstruction.

English is not my first language so it should not be easy for you to read through all of those. Thank you.

[kjwilkin]

I completely tore my left ACL a year ago and the doctor did the ACL reconstruction (Patella) for me 5 days ago. Starting the second day after the surgery I got a fever (between 38.5 and 39.5 degree) but today the fever seems like is gone. I also got swelling and a little bit pain of my knee and my lower leg for the first couple of days. At the third day after surgery I removed the bondage and I applied ice wrap to my leg then now the swelling is gone too.

Everything above seems OK but I gradually got a huge problem, the lower leg pain. It only appears when I try to stand up. At that time it feels like the blood suddenly fills into my leg and somehow stings my nerves like millions of nails. I did not notice this pain before I removed my bondage, but after I did that, the pain continuously increases. Yesterday the pain was noticeable but all I need to do is taking a couple of deep breathes then I could walk with crutches, but today the pain is unbearable. If I lie down the pain is totally gone, and if I sit up carefully the pain is somehow OK. I just cannot stand up for even 5 seconds. I was a soccer player and I have 3 broken bones in my body, so please believe me, if I said it is unbearable, it is unbearable.

Now my lower leg skin is hot, red, shining, and painful if touching it. A large part of my lower leg skin has changed its color to dark red/ green/ brown/ purple.(obviously there are some ?dead? blood under there). But like I said, it is not swelling anymore.
I am worrying about this but I did some searching online and I did not find any similar case as mine, and it is weird that things can go worse and worse after the surgery. I am not sure if my case can be related to DVT blood clot, but I was told it is very rare to happen after an ACL reconstruction.

English is not my first language so it should not be easy for you to read through all of those. Thank you.

Hi there,

If I was you I'd get in touch with your specialist straight away. You may have an infection or something.

After my knee surgery I was having some problems and turned out that I had an infection in my knee. You need to get onto these things pretty quickly.

Let us know how you get on !!

[dalhousieu]

Thank you very much.
I will see my physican today and ask for an ultrasound test for the DVT blood clot. I will update if I have anything new.

[dalhousieu]

I did not see my surgeon today because he was doing operations all day. My family doctor said it may be infection and he gave me some antibiotics. I will see my surgeon tomorrow.