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Damage from Iovera Nerve block prior to TKR

Posted by kathi65 @kathi65, Nov 8, 2022

I had right TKR 18 weeks ago. Prior to surgery I had lower leg neuropathy and a neurologist could not determine why after testing (you're part of the 20% of the population that gets it for an unknown reason she said). My surgeon recommended the Iovera nerve block prior to surgery because it would help with pain after the surgery. He said that the nerve block would last for about 3 months. I had no problem when the injection was done, minimal bruising and my leg was numb. It's now been more than 3 months later and I still have numbness going all the way down the inside of my thigh to my knee and when I touched the skin it feels like someone's taking a razor blade and slicing my skin open. I'm also having problems when I bend my leg in certain ways or touch my leg in certain spots I start get sharp nerve pains down on my lower leg. I don't know if this is from the Iovera injection or not. And I have a feeling nobody's really going to tell me. Has this happened to anybody else? I already had a chronic pain condition before surgery and if I had known that I would feel the way I do now I don't think I would have had my knee replaced!

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csr346 | @csr346 | 4 days ago
In reply to @lindielulu "Just reading the updates and came across this. My experience with Iovera was not a wooden..." + (show)
@lindielulu

Just reading the updates and came across this. My experience with Iovera was not a wooden leg feeling. In fact, everything except my knee was numbed. The procedure itself was not that painful, it was and is what I am experiencing now. Burning pain, muscle pain, just generally painful where I expected it to be numb. I did not have the surgery due to another reason and I didn't know I wasn't having it until the day after Iovera treatment. So I am still suffering from the painful effects of the Iovera. I hear it works for some people, for me it would have just been a painful addition to the surgery. It is a chance people take but I would never do it again.

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I was researching Iovera reviews to see if it was something that would help with knee pain. These reviews are not encouraging. I had TKR in 2009 and again in 2019…on the same knee! Didn’t use the same surgeon because I was in so much pain after the first replacement I’m still in pain with that knee and now my “good” knee is hurting. I take 4 Percocet daily and they don’t do much for pain anymore. I’m so over it…

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lindielulu | @lindielulu | 3 days ago
In reply to @csr346 "I was researching Iovera reviews to see if it was something that would help with knee..." + (show)
@csr346

I was researching Iovera reviews to see if it was something that would help with knee pain. These reviews are not encouraging. I had TKR in 2009 and again in 2019…on the same knee! Didn’t use the same surgeon because I was in so much pain after the first replacement I’m still in pain with that knee and now my “good” knee is hurting. I take 4 Percocet daily and they don’t do much for pain anymore. I’m so over it…

Jump to this post

I am so sorry and your story is the very reason I am almost resigned to the pain without the surgery. The Iovera might help but it seems more people than not are not happy with it and it is only a temporary fix if it does help. My "good" knee is hurting too and I suspect it won't be long until I am on the strong pain meds. I sure hope they can fix you up. My doctor just blows it off saying that most people that continue to have a problem are the ones that don't do the rehab. I'm afraid I might be one of them!!!

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csr346 | @csr346 | 3 days ago

I wish someone would come up with a “machine” or something that could detect pain. I get so annoyed when doctors just blow it off…and saying you need physical therapy. I’ve done it all. I did ALL the rehab after both surgeries. I even lost 30 pounds hoping it would help! It didn’t. (I mean I LOOK good, but still hurt like hell!😂😂). I wish my doctor could walk a mile (or a block!) in my shoes. It’s very annoying.

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