HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

question-icon

What Does Mild Knee Pain Even After Knee Replacement Indicate?

default
Posted on Sat, 7 Feb 2015
Question: I had a knee replacement 14 months ago, I still have significant pain, I had Pt for a total of 16 weeks. My surgeon now wants to aspirate for cultures, cell count and synovosure. I am told they do not use an anesthetic when they insert the needle to obtain the fluid. Why won't they give me a numbing agent?????
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Sudhir Kumar (32 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Because local anaesthetic infiltration is equally painful.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for choosing healthcaremagic for posting your query

I'm Dr. Sudhir Kumar,

I have gone through your question in detail and understand your concern.

Doctor generally doesn't infiltrate local anaesthetic (numbing agents) for small procedures like aspiration because local anaesthetic infiltration to anaesthetise the part is equally or sometimes more painful then procedure itself. Moreover sometimes the doctor could aspirate with a single prick, so why bother to prick twice (once to use numbing agent and then again to aspirate). So that's why so aspirations are done without numbing agents.

You can discuss with your treating Doctor about it.

Hope I have answered your query.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for me, so that I get a good feedback.

In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link: https://www.bit.ly/askdrsudhirortho

Wishing you good health

Take care

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Dr. Sudhir Kumar (19 hours later)
I am tempted NOT to have the aspiration because of the painful procedure, couldn't they do the bone scan, the blood work, the standing xrays, the CBC, ESR and the creatine protein test and the alignment test AND then if they still suspected a bone infection I would agree to the cell aspiration??? ????
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Sudhir Kumar (44 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
This is not so painful. Aspiration is a direct procedure so more specific.

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Welcome back

I have gone through your question in detail and understand your concern.
CBC,ESR and C reactive protein are not specific as they are indirect and indicate infection in body anywhere, means they are not specific for joint infection. But joint aspiration following by cell count,culture and synovosure is direct method and much more specific for peri prosthetic infection. Moreover joint aspiration is not much painful in expert hands. Probably they are suspecting periprosthetic infection that is why they are suggesting aspiration and tests.

You can discuss with your treating Doctor about it.

Hope I have answered your query.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for me, so that I get a good feedback.

In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link: https://www.bit.ly/askdrsudhirortho

Wishing you good health

Take care
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Dr. Sudhir Kumar

Orthopaedic Surgeon

Practicing since :1993

Answered : 3356 Questions

premium_optimized

The User accepted the expert's answer

Share on

Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties

159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM Blog Questions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction
What Does Mild Knee Pain Even After Knee Replacement Indicate?

Brief Answer: Because local anaesthetic infiltration is equally painful. Detailed Answer: Hi, Thanks for choosing healthcaremagic for posting your query I'm Dr. Sudhir Kumar, I have gone through your question in detail and understand your concern. Doctor generally doesn't infiltrate local anaesthetic (numbing agents) for small procedures like aspiration because local anaesthetic infiltration to anaesthetise the part is equally or sometimes more painful then procedure itself. Moreover sometimes the doctor could aspirate with a single prick, so why bother to prick twice (once to use numbing agent and then again to aspirate). So that's why so aspirations are done without numbing agents. You can discuss with your treating Doctor about it. Hope I have answered your query. If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you. If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for me, so that I get a good feedback. In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link: https://www.bit.ly/askdrsudhirortho Wishing you good health Take care