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Foot neuropathy (numbness and pain) after total knee replacement (TKR)

Posted by norby @norby, Nov 26, 2018

I had a right total knee replacement 10 weeks ago and came out of surgery with numbness and intermittent pain on the bottom of my right foot. However, I do have good motor function in that foot. The knee has been healing and with PT, movement is on track, but the foot is a major challenge. The foot pain at times is worse than any from the knee. I have been able to generally manage the foot pain with gabapentin. My surgeon believes this may resolve in time but may take from 6-12 months. However there is a possibility that it will never go away. Has anyone else experienced foot neuropathy following knee replacement? If so, what was your experience with it?

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patriciadc | @patriciadc | Nov 3 10:44am
In reply to @loriaakre "So sorry you have the numbness in the foot. Yes it is very uncomfortable. My Surgeon..." + (show)
@loriaakre

So sorry you have the numbness in the foot. Yes it is very uncomfortable. My Surgeon told me 1 to 2 years as nerves only heal 1 mm a day and it is a long way to your feet. Have them do an ABI test. It measures the pressure in your legs. It's just like a blood pressure test. that is how they determined that I had a blocked popliteal artery behind my knee that supplies blood flow to my foot and needed surgery to open it up. My toes were purple and foot was cold all the time. Half of the numbness went away right after that surgery and my toes were not purple and foot was warm, but still has some numbness and my foot feels cold but really isn't. They did put me on gabapentin which did help some of the pain, but not all of it. It took a lot to convince a dr. that it wasn't normal. It was my primary that finally said it was not normal. It was 60 days out from TKR that I had the popliteal artery surgery. I had also told the surgeon that my knee clicks all the time from day one. of course that is normal as well. well now I found out 7 months out that I have a fractured knee cap. I have an appoint next week with the surgeon. Will be interesting to see what he has to say now. The surgeon will NOT take responsibility for what they do wrong! I saw 5 different dr. who all said it was normal. I had had my other knee done in 2013 so I knew what normal should of been.
Take care of YOU! and be an advocate for yourself.

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Geez, you have been through a lot. You say you had foot numbness, did you have severe pain in the foot also? I recently had a revision replacement and it went well but the excruciating pain in my heel and foot numbness is awful!!! The dr said it was due to the nerve block. It was so bad I have been to the ER twice. Morphine did not touch the pain. I finally got relief by my stepdaughter asking the dr to prescribe gabarpentin. It helps with the pain but not the numbness. I’ve also been to a vascular surgeon. Seems like no one can help or give answers concerning the foot.

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Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Nov 3 11:28am
In reply to @patriciadc "Wondering if your foot pain ever went away? I had a revision replacement recently and the..." + (show)
@patriciadc

Wondering if your foot pain ever went away? I had a revision replacement recently and the foot pain and numbness is almost unbearable.

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I only have numbness with my PN. It does feel a little better now but it is still numb.

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pamsc | @pamsc | Nov 16 10:02am

I am experiencing that exact thing with my foot after tkr, no feeling in toes and under my foot. The pain feels like putting your foot in a sock and pulling the sock so tight, than forcing a shoe 5 sizes too small on it. It was just in my foot, now the numbness has moved to my ankle. I hit the emergency room at least once a month to check blood flow and it's been OK. I can't find shoes that are comfortable, and my foot causes my balance to be off. I'm just miserable.

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1 reply
lillian74 | @lillian74 | Dec 1 9:10am

I am on day 10 of recovery and yes the foot pain at times is worse than the knee pain! Not sleeping much and exhausted! Hope this improves!

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clovisse | @clovisse | Dec 2 6:39pm
In reply to @pamsc "I am experiencing that exact thing with my foot after tkr, no feeling in toes and..." + (show)
@pamsc

I am experiencing that exact thing with my foot after tkr, no feeling in toes and under my foot. The pain feels like putting your foot in a sock and pulling the sock so tight, than forcing a shoe 5 sizes too small on it. It was just in my foot, now the numbness has moved to my ankle. I hit the emergency room at least once a month to check blood flow and it's been OK. I can't find shoes that are comfortable, and my foot causes my balance to be off. I'm just miserable.

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I have foot neuropathy also after my left TKR on August 16, 2024. I knew something was very wrong the next morning after my surgery when it felt like I had huge blisters under my heel and under the ball of my foot and toes as well. The big toe is totally numb. My surgeon told me to wear compression stockings to help reduce the swelling. He will also send me to a neurologist for a nerve conduction study. I am still waiting 3 1/2 months later. Still have numbness and I have a very hard time when I am barefoot in the shower my balance is off. I wonder if it really will help me to see a neurologist or does it mainly help the surgeon to see what went wrong?
One good thing is that I have finally started sleeping through the night. The throbbing pain in my knee is gone!! Now if only the foot numbness would disappear!!

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