Hi, All,
I'm coming in on the end of this conversation. I'll share my situation from my LTHR last March 2023. I went to a a highly reputable ortho. Within a week after surgery, the nerves around my left kneecap area were on fire, like red ants. I had to make a tent with pillows to prevent the sheet from touching my knee as it was seriously painful and I cried. The PA said should clear up in a few months. It did not, but the fire ants and nerves began to be less painful. Then the ortho said it could take 18 months. This month is 18 months. What I have been left with is numbness in thigh from top of knee and on the side nerves. For many months, I had electrical shock feeling in those areas, doctor said that's good b/c nerves regenerating. Now I still have the numbness top of thigh and on side nerve-like sensations and that hurts I bump against something. Sleeping on that side can be uncomfortable. I have a feeling I may just have to live with this the rest of my life. I don't like it, but.... My right hip has osteoarthritis/bone on bone also and has been hurting mostly in mornings. I plan to hold off surgery b/c as of now I can live with the right hip pain easier than the left numb/nerve area. Ortho said it was caused by my femoral nerve being retracted and causing the femoral nerve to be bruised or irritated. He said usually the nerves regenerate. The words "usually" and "should" are always the worrisome ones. I think what's it's caused is neuropathy, but I have never been to another doctor. If I do more doctoring, I may end up worse off. Good luck to all dealing with this. Joint replacements are seriously invasive surgical procedures.
Take care and hope all of us heal!!