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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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mabfp3 | @mabfp3 | 6 hours ago
In reply to @hemjem "I do hear you loud & clear. Being I don't know your age. Or if you..." + (show)
@hemjem

I do hear you loud & clear. Being I don't know your age. Or if you are bone on bone & no cartiledge left which are the real determining factors on whether to have the surgery.
In my case, I was BOTH of those issues & extreme swelling & could barely walk. I am 72 yrs old & have always been very active. My other knee also needs surgery but may have to wait a few more months. Just 3 months exactly since surgery, & I am already so tired of the pain!

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I hear you and I feel very bad for the pain that you are going through. I experienced the same thing and I am not much better today! Take good care.

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mabfp3 | @mabfp3 | 5 hours ago
In reply to @steve8899 "I had TKR Feb 19. When the nerve block wore off the next day, i had..." + (show)
@steve8899

I had TKR Feb 19. When the nerve block wore off the next day, i had unbearable pain when I stood up. As the blood ran into my leg as I stood up, it was immediately on FIRE. The worst lasted for more than 2 weeks, no sleep during that time. Doctors staff was totally incompetent with the pain meds. Could not do the physical therapy due to pain. I was told by an anesthesiologist and a physical therapist that i must have nerve damage. By the time i was able to do physical therapy, I had already built up enough scar tissue that i could not bend past 90 degrees no matter how hard i tried. Doctor said he had to go in and remove scar tissue with an arthroscopic procedure. He said i should have the Iovera before the procedure. I trusted him and did no homework. Had Iovera May 10, surgery on May 22. Iovera procedure was very uncomfortable. He hit the nerve a couple times resulting in electrical shock like pain. Knee was totally numb after with some pain and swelling at the injection sites with a large knot in my quad just above the knee. Arthroscopic surgery went well, 135 degrees flex within a few days with minimal pain. He had me on 10 mg oxy for 10 days after the procedure. I am over 4 months from the Iovera, and still very numb. Occasionally i get a stabbing pain in the knee and sometimes in the foot.?? I think being able to feel what is going on in the knee would help in the recovery. I am having a difficult time strengthening the leg. Walking up steps is difficult. Before the TKR surgery, i had no trouble with strength, only pain. I feel like the Iovera has hindered my recovery. It could be that the PA did not do the procedure properly since i was told that the numbness would last up to 90 days. If I knew then what I know now, I would never have done the Iovera. Avoid it if you can.

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I had TKR for my right knee in 2021. My knee has never been the same. It still hurts going up and down the stairs. My left knee is bad but I have decided to never put myself through another knee surgery again. I was allergic to several pain meds and told to take Extra Strength Tylenol. I couldn’t sleep, was in excruciating pain and became depressed. Once I went to outside PT, I got a wonderful therapist who gave me a lot of encouragement. However, I had to go to PT for six months, twice a week.

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