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Calf pain after TKR

Posted by afladland @afladland, Jan 23, 2023

I am 5 weeks post op from TKR on my right knee. From the very 1st week, most of my pain is in my calf. It seems to be getting worse with every week. It is especially painful when I am sitting or driving. The only thing that gives me immediate relief is when I get in a hot bath. At my 4 week check up, I have virtually no swelling and my ROM is where its suppose to be. It is such a deep ache in my calf with numbness in my foot. Ultrasound showed no blood clot. I've been from my surgeon to a vascular specialist and now referred to a neurologist. Has anyone had this issue?

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bwlsh | @bwlsh | May 2 10:17pm
In reply to @loreleiks "I also experience extreme calf pain following my TKR and then several weeks after surgery. Speaking..." + (show)
@loreleiks

I also experience extreme calf pain following my TKR and then several weeks after surgery. Speaking with my Nurse Navigator she had me continue with gabapentin 3x a day with tizanidine every 6 hours/as needed. This regiment truly kept the situation manageable as it twindled down to nothing. The Nurse said some people just experience severe muscle spasms which need longer term attention. I hope you and your health team can come to a good working solution as I know this is extremely painful. Best regards.

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I am one week post TKR and am also having extreme calf soreness and numbness in the heel of my surgery leg. The numbness and tingling in my foot seems to get worse at night or anytime I’m lying down. The calf soreness is always present and is always painful when I try walking. I was sent to the ER yesterday to have a blood clot study to rule out a dvt, which was negative.

Today someone suggested this might be nerve damage or neuropathy. A little hunting for info led me here. I have my next Appt with the surgeon in about 5 days. I hope he has some relief to offer me.

Anything I can do at home in the mean time??

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gogailg5 | @gogailg5 | May 4 3:49pm

Hi TKRL, still swelling and inflammation 10 months out. in the last 2 months, my calf muscle has been locking up and super tight. My PT dry needles my calf, very painful and it helps. She tells me to cycle for 5min b4 session and that only makes my calf worse. I saw a 2nd opinion, no insight. He states my IT band is tight. excessive bending my knee causes my calf to tighten, it's just the inside and the upper back of my calf.

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joyanna | @joyanna | May 12 11:00pm
In reply to @tkr1 "I am now 11 months post TKR. I had generalized foot pain/achiness and inner calf pain..." + (show)
@tkr1

I am now 11 months post TKR. I had generalized foot pain/achiness and inner calf pain begin soon after TKR. Ultrasound showed no blood clots. Ortho not concerned. Although my knee has clicking, clunking and crunching with every leg movement, I have minimal knee pain and excellent ROM. Foot achiness and inner calf tenderness remained. About 4 months post op severe heel pain started with walking. Calf muscle has atrophied. Have seen 2 podiatrists who diagnosed plantar fasciitis with minimal history and exam. Have had 2 cortisone injections in my foot, custom orthotics were made, and tried NSAIDS. Nothing has worked. No improvement for the past 6 months. I am now seeing PT. He took extensive history and exam and thinks I have tibial nerve compression/damage from the surgery and swelling not plantar fasciitis. Has anyone out there had the same issues after TKR and if so, any successful treatment?

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Yes, I had TKR 1 year ago and I have clonking and clicking started about 3 months after surgery. It is very aggravating and not sure if it will go away. I have heard that most people with this surgery has it. We have to wait and see is all we can do I guess! Ugh. Foot and leg aches at times but I think it goes with the surgery!

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1 reply
cindymattern | @cindymattern | May 13 6:24am
In reply to @joyanna "Yes, I had TKR 1 year ago and I have clonking and clicking started about 3..." + (show)
@joyanna

Yes, I had TKR 1 year ago and I have clonking and clicking started about 3 months after surgery. It is very aggravating and not sure if it will go away. I have heard that most people with this surgery has it. We have to wait and see is all we can do I guess! Ugh. Foot and leg aches at times but I think it goes with the surgery!

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I am also 18 months out....knee still gets really sore and stiff and hurts sometimes. I still also have the clunking and clicking in the knee and sometimes it's worse than others. I thought by now things would be good. Still exercising but sometimes it still really hurts.

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droby3030 | @droby3030 | Sep 13 6:48am
In reply to @johnbishop "Hello @afladland, Welcome to Connect. I'm sorry to hear you are dealing with the calf pain..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Hello @afladland, Welcome to Connect. I'm sorry to hear you are dealing with the calf pain and numbness in the foot following your knee replacement. I think it's still early in your recovery and it sounds like you are doing OK except with the calf pain and numbness in the foot. I had pain around the knee following my TKR but did not experience the pain or numbness you have. While we wait for other members to respond with their experience, I thought I would share this Mayo Clinic page that may be what you are experiencing.

"Mayo Clinic is investigating infrapatellar saphenous nerve neuroma as a source of pain after total knee arthroplasty. About 20% of patients who have a total knee arthroplasty are dissatisfied with the result, often due to residual pain. "
-- Saphenous nerve neuroma after total knee arthroplasty:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/medical-professionals/orthopedic-surgery/news/saphenous-nerve-neuroma-after-total-knee-arthroplasty/mac-20482753.
You may also find the following article on the topic helpful.
"Neuropathic pain is an underestimated problem in patients with pain after TKR. It peaks at between six weeks and three-months post-operatively. However, from these data we were unable to predict which patients are most likely to be affected."
-- The natural history of pain and neuropathic pain after knee replacement:
https://online.boneandjoint.org.uk/doi/full/10.1302/0301-620X.96B9.33756.
When is your appointment with the neurologist? Can you let us know what you find out?

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I am 7 weeks post tkr. After 3 weeks after surgery I have started with foot tingling , and a band like feeling around arch of my foot . Is this normal and why is it happening ?

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1 reply
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Sep 13 7:08am
In reply to @droby3030 "I am 7 weeks post tkr. After 3 weeks after surgery I have started with foot..." + (show)
@droby3030

I am 7 weeks post tkr. After 3 weeks after surgery I have started with foot tingling , and a band like feeling around arch of my foot . Is this normal and why is it happening ?

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Hello @droby3030, Welcome to Connect. I don't think you are alone with your symptoms after knee replacement. I already had neuropathy prior to my knee replacement but it didn't get any worse for me. @paint1956 and @stp258 have posted about foot tingling and tight band feeling and may have experience or suggestions to share with you.

While you wait for members to respond, you might find it helpful to scan through other discussions and comments mentioning "TKR +foot tingling". Here's a link that lists the discussions and comments - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/?search=TKR+%2Bfoot+tingling

How is the knee recovery going otherwise?

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2 replies
droby3030 | @droby3030 | Sep 13 7:19am
In reply to @johnbishop "Hello @droby3030, Welcome to Connect. I don't think you are alone with your symptoms after knee..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Hello @droby3030, Welcome to Connect. I don't think you are alone with your symptoms after knee replacement. I already had neuropathy prior to my knee replacement but it didn't get any worse for me. @paint1956 and @stp258 have posted about foot tingling and tight band feeling and may have experience or suggestions to share with you.

While you wait for members to respond, you might find it helpful to scan through other discussions and comments mentioning "TKR +foot tingling". Here's a link that lists the discussions and comments - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/?search=TKR+%2Bfoot+tingling

How is the knee recovery going otherwise?

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Thank you . I only hope it gets better . I am getting concerned

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droby3030 | @droby3030 | Sep 13 7:31am
In reply to @johnbishop "Hello @droby3030, Welcome to Connect. I don't think you are alone with your symptoms after knee..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Hello @droby3030, Welcome to Connect. I don't think you are alone with your symptoms after knee replacement. I already had neuropathy prior to my knee replacement but it didn't get any worse for me. @paint1956 and @stp258 have posted about foot tingling and tight band feeling and may have experience or suggestions to share with you.

While you wait for members to respond, you might find it helpful to scan through other discussions and comments mentioning "TKR +foot tingling". Here's a link that lists the discussions and comments - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/?search=TKR+%2Bfoot+tingling

How is the knee recovery going otherwise?

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Recovery is coming . At least no more arthritis pain . Only me

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