joint infections (Tom Brady)
 

ABC National News last night reported on how Tom Brady (New England Patriots quarterback in case you live in a cave) knee surgery resulted in an infection in his joint requiring two more surgeries to clean out the infection and now he's on extensive antibiotics. The article states how infections in a joint can lead to permanent damage and eventually permanent pain or permanent arthritis b/c the bacteria is chewing up the tissue inside the joint. While the story is primarily about knees, the same risk of infection applies to our spines...

See http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=6106737&page=1

Laura and I have a co-worker who's first artificial knee had to be removed due to infection. The man had to go for about a month or so without anything between his femur and tibia while the infection was being cleaned out because the surgeon was sure that it couldn't be a post-op infection and let things go. The second surgeon realized what had happened immediately, removed the hardware, put the man on a serious course of antibiotics, and replaced the aritificial knee once he was well enough to go through the surgery.

Richard could tell more and better stories than even this one but infection, either post-op or from another source but invading the joint, is real serious stuff.

I am not a sports watcher..I'd rather play than watch. But by reviewing my research and online communities (thanks Liz) I recall Tom Brady's serious infection in his knee in 2008. Do you think it's a coincidence he re-injured his knee last week? I think not. Bugs eat tissue with their enzymes. That's why many people have joint diseases in this country.

Brady Injury: When Knee Surgery Backfires - ABC News