Dental Health (2)
Peter Cheung and Others
Sue: |
I am finding all these mentioned by you very interesting and informative. As I learn more I begin to better understand my mother's knee infection background and how it is likely related to her tooth ache/infection. |
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My mom had a very successful knee replacement done 2 years ago. Last spring she came back from HK after a 6 months stay. She said she was having problems with her teeth but was waiting to get it checked and fixed when she is back in Toronto. She was having some pretty serious tooth ache by then as my mom doesn't normally complain about things like this and it was keeping her up at night. We were in and out of the dentist office for about 2-3 months in clearing up infection, filling cavity, etc, etc, etc. The dentist also told us that mom has to do cleaning every 2-3 months in order to prevent gum disease given her circumstance. She hasn't had it cleaned for a while because of all the trips. Mind you that she was taking pre-op medication (antibiotic) because of her artificial knee (all such patient are to do this as precaution for infection as you are 'exposed' to germs when you have small cuts, etc which happens even when cleaning your teeth). |
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Then in early summer, my mom started to feel pain on her right knee (the one replaced). It became unbearable in July/August when we have been through some back and forth diagnostics with the family doctor. He first thought it was gout, then he thought it was arthritis. I decided it's time to get it checked out by her knee surgeon in the hospital as he is still doing annual checkup on her knee. The x-ray result was normal, but as he saw how bad the knee was swollen and the level of pain being induced, he said it's time to cut open and clear out what is apparent a very bad infection. He extracted something from her knee for lab test. It was a pretty serious operation as the incision was as long as a knee replacement and the recovery was about the same length of time (6-8 weeks). But then it has to be done and we know we have to get it over with. Then she was put on antibiotic for another 6 weeks to ensure the infection is fully suppressed. I asked the doctor and the specialist as to how this happen. They all said it can be anything, it can come from dental problem, dental work when one is exposed or from having cuts and being around people who have the germs, etc, etc. Another miss is that the lab test came back showing that the antibiotic she is on doesn't apply to the specific bacteria she has. We scramble through a few more issues and finally put her on the right medication. This unfortunately was discovered at least a week after the surgery (which means the bacteria was still active even after the operation). So she is to stay on this medication for 6 weeks to see if the infection would return. Worst case is that she would need another operation and this time to completely redo the knee replacement which is rather dramatic for an 83 year old. This means it would be around the time I would leave for the reunion, that's why I wasn't quite sure I could go until the last minute. Because of the obvious improvement, the doctor decided to keep her on the medication for 4 more weeks and told me that I am safe to leave town as nothing would happen. So I went and quickly return (while it's a bit short, but so glad I got to join the reunion). The specialist however said the chance of clearing this up by medication is only 20%. My mom is now off the medication for 2 weeks, we were told that this is a good sign. But she is not completely out of the woods unless she comes clean after 3 months. |
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The reason I am sharing this rather personal and long story is hoping to share the experience if it helps to reconfirm the importance of going to your dentist and doctor's when your body is giving you a signal and how I highly suspect that my mom's case started when she had the tooth ache for the long period she did. In particular I learn from the expert that if you have an infection, the bacteria will first find its way to a foreign object in your body and grow there. It's much harder to treat with medicine hence in most cases; they have to replace the prosthesis. It is fortunate that my mom has a positive attitude. She is back to see the doctor and specialist this and next week and I am hopeful that she is the 20% success group. |
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So, take care of your teeth, get it clean regularly and take care of your health!!!!! |
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...........To be continued............