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?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Joint Replacements Support Group.

Profile picture for loriaakre @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.

Jump to this post

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.

REPLY
Profile picture for patriciadc @patriciadc

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

Jump to this post

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

REPLY

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.

REPLY

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!

REPLY
Profile picture for pamsc @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.

Jump to this post

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!!

REPLY

I am 10 months out and just started feeling numbness on the bottom of my foot and big toe, I hope it doesn’t get any worse

REPLY

I have neuropathy several years after a TAR. Neurologist wanted to do the nerve conduction study. I researched it. Extremely painful. So I asked if I let him do it could he fix the neuropathy??? He thought, and then said No, he probably could not 'fix' it. I declined the pain.

REPLY

Hello friends
I had to have a 2nd knee replacement on my Left knee 3 weeks ago due to previous doctor put in a 20 yr old device I was told! Now I have such bad pain in my foot that shoots up my shin to my replacement that hurts to all Heck! I'm taking muscle relaxers and pain pills! Nothing seems to work, my knee is real swollen as I keep ice on all day since its so swollen! I have to back to my doctor get an x-ray to see what's wrong! I can't wait, any suggestions? Please advise thank you!

REPLY
Profile picture for robinleslie @robinleslie

I am 10 months out and just started feeling numbness on the bottom of my foot and big toe, I hope it doesn’t get any worse

Jump to this post

I experienced the same thing after TKR.
Mine is called Tarsal tunnel syndrome.
Same as carpal but in the foot.
Im 16 months out and still have it.
I’ve haven’t had any pain.
There’s nothing they can do except cortisone shot, at this time.
So far it hasn’t gotten worse.
Good luck

REPLY
Profile picture for robinleslie @robinleslie

I experienced the same thing after TKR.
Mine is called Tarsal tunnel syndrome.
Same as carpal but in the foot.
Im 16 months out and still have it.
I’ve haven’t had any pain.
There’s nothing they can do except cortisone shot, at this time.
So far it hasn’t gotten worse.
Good luck

Jump to this post

I had tarsal tunnel syndrome decompression surgery November 2024. Recovered from surgery but pain remains while weight bearing.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.