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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@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 sent you a private message here

can you check

someone told me how to

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@hemjem

I really don't get on FB that much anymore

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Up in the top right side of the Mayo Board screen there are clickable icons, including a letter icon for private messages, let's hope your friend notices that there is a message for them!

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I am sorry the Iovera did damage to you.
In my case the Iovera was a godsend. My knee is socked in with bone on bone and I am willing to do what it takes to avoid another joint replacement.
I was told I might get three months of relief but got over a year of relief!
I wish I found find this treatment again since my pain clinic in Manhattan stopped using Iovera

Good luck

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I had a hip replacement 3 yrs ago and before surgery I had a femoral nerve block to help with pain. Somehow my femoral nerve was damaged I was sent to inpatient rehab. It felt like fire crackers exploding in my leg. I could not lift my leg off the ground, couldn't get into bed, and screamed getting up and down. It took 2 years to heal it's not great but better than it was, I did tons of PT for 3 months at home and water exercise for another year to get it to heal. I had TKR in 2022 and refused a nerve block at that time. The docs looked at each other and said to me how bad the pain would be without it, I said I'll take my chances rather than agree to the nerve block and wind up with a dropped foot that I had when my first hip was done. I did fine after surgery and had a normal recovery. The electric shocks you are feeling is nerve pain, it takes longer to heal than the surgery.

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@gbear1953

I am sorry the Iovera did damage to you.
In my case the Iovera was a godsend. My knee is socked in with bone on bone and I am willing to do what it takes to avoid another joint replacement.
I was told I might get three months of relief but got over a year of relief!
I wish I found find this treatment again since my pain clinic in Manhattan stopped using Iovera

Good luck

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I'm glad it worked for you, it's amazing how different the results are for different people and to get a year is great! You must have had someone who got it in the right place, I hope you can find someone to give you another treatment. I can't help but wonder why they stopped

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@josephinecarrion

I have a very bad right knee with torn meniscus etc. and I need a knee replacement. I was trying to hold off on it for a few years so I went to my doctor and he recommended this procedure. I can’t begin to tell you what kind of pain I’ve been in since the day he did it. My pain now is worse than before. I don’t know what to do. and I called the doctor and I got no explanation about this from him other than take Tylenol. Meanwhile, my whole entire knee is not only numb but I feel like somebody put a knife in and never took it out.

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I also had the treatment with TKR, and experienced terrible nerve pain and knife like pain following the procedure. I went back to my surgeon, who approved the block procedure but was not the doc that administered it. My surgeon prescribed a steroid treatment after explaining it was neuritis, inflamed nerves as a result of the block. It helped immensely, but as soon as I completed the coarse of steroids, it returned, although not as intense. I’ve since had a second course with same response. I am 4 months out and have exchanged one pain pre op, to this knife like pain post op. I would never have done this had I been advised of this possibility and I did not find anything about this side effect when I did my research. My surgeon feels it will improve as the block wears off and the healing is complete that could take up to 12 months. I am still experiencing a vice grip numbing sensation mixed with knife like pain through out my knee with movement. I would never do this again and praying it will resolve.

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@lb1

I also had the treatment with TKR, and experienced terrible nerve pain and knife like pain following the procedure. I went back to my surgeon, who approved the block procedure but was not the doc that administered it. My surgeon prescribed a steroid treatment after explaining it was neuritis, inflamed nerves as a result of the block. It helped immensely, but as soon as I completed the coarse of steroids, it returned, although not as intense. I’ve since had a second course with same response. I am 4 months out and have exchanged one pain pre op, to this knife like pain post op. I would never have done this had I been advised of this possibility and I did not find anything about this side effect when I did my research. My surgeon feels it will improve as the block wears off and the healing is complete that could take up to 12 months. I am still experiencing a vice grip numbing sensation mixed with knife like pain through out my knee with movement. I would never do this again and praying it will resolve.

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My Drs PA hit my nerves June 28 and the pain is still here 6 months later

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@kobesnowy

My Drs PA hit my nerves June 28 and the pain is still here 6 months later

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Ouch! Perhaps discuss a round of steroid treatment to calm them down? Might be worth a try to see if it helps.

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@lb1

Ouch! Perhaps discuss a round of steroid treatment to calm them down? Might be worth a try to see if it helps.

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Thank you. I did. Nothing helps

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