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burning pain after knee surgery

My sister had a petela and ligament reconstruction, plsu numerous other things done because of tears etc. found after going into the knee. Less than one week after surgery and after going to Physical therapy twice she started having a burning sensation on the shin below the knee that was operated on. The knee itself feels pretty good she says, better than it did before the surgery but the morning after the burning sensation started she woek up in severe pain, unable to hold her leg down for any amount of time without severely increasing the pain also it is extremely red. The pain got so bad we had to take her to the emergency room, the first time she went they gave her antibiotics and took cultures looking for some type of blood or skin infection. They took blood her white cell count was normal so they sent her home saying there was nothing they could do till they got the culture results. that same night she was back in the ER due to the pain getting worse and if possible the redness was even more pronounced. they admitted her giving her all kinds of antibiotics intraveniously.  They released her the next day, no one can tell us what is causing this and it is not getting better. Does anyone have any suggestions, please we need help!
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700223 tn?1318165694
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Burning pain down the shin after ligament reconstruction can be caused by the drainage of collected blood from the knee down the front on the leg into the muscles in front of the shin.  This can case swelling, discoloration, and burning pain.  The symptoms are usually self limitting and resolve after the blood has been absorbed.
It sounds like your sister is being treated for infection of the skin known as cellulits.  It is important to cover this, since an untreated infection will only can worse and can cause more problems.
I think it is important to discuss all this with your sister's surgeon as soon as possible.
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A related discussion, Hip Osteoarthritis was started.
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A related discussion, week two of knee surgery was started.
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A related discussion, Knee pain after surgery was started.
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Thank you so very much! That is the first thing we have been told that has madce any sense what so ever! Believe me we have discussed this with her surgeon and have gotten no where. But thank you so much!!!
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