Peripheral Neuropathy after total knee replacement

@swarring16
How long has it been since his knee surgery? Did he do extensive physical therapy? Has he had any post surgery testing/imaging done?

He may benefit from having a MRI and seeing a neurologist for EMG/nerve conduction study of his lower limbs. He could have nerve damage or vascular claudication.

Is his neuropathy in both limbs? My neuropathy came 6 weeks after knee surgery also.

Yes, this is real, although I haven't personally experienced it. You can try searching for the phrases "surgically-induced neuropathic pain" or "post-surgical neuropathy". And chronic pain of any sort makes it hard to think clearly and can impact your personality, which you would notice, as his partner. If both his surgeon and his primary care doctor are at a loss, consider asking for a referral to a pain clinic or a neurologist who specializes in neuropathies. With any sort of chronic pain, the longer it goes untreated, the greater the risk that it will become harder to treat. So if you get a referral but the next available appointment won't be for several months, it's worth asking if you can get on a waitlist for an earlier appointment if one opens up -- you may have to change your plans on the fly because it will be short notice, but it will be worth it.

I have had neuropathy in both feet (mostly toes) for about 6 years. I just had a knee replacement about 7 weeks ago. The neuropathy is definitely worse now, but not all of the time. The pain from surgery is such that I don't pay much attention to the neuropathy. I assumed that both will dissipate in time.

Sounds like a very healthy perspective.

Hi, I would just like to add my personal experience in regard to your post surgery Neuropathy. I had bilateral knee replacement nine years ago. (both knees replaced at the same time) I only started to experience Neuropathy about two years ago. Only slightly at first, but in the past year it has progressed rapidly. I am among the fortunate ones, I guess, who experience no pain with my neuropathy. Numbness only.

So, to your concern that Post operative surgery, knee replacements, contribute to Neuropathy, I would have to interject that that may not be the case. At least for me, considering eight years pasted post knee replacement surgery before I experience neuropathy. That said, everyone is different. Many factors come to play. I am now 74 years old and that may or may not play a factor. Just wanted to put my two cents in.

Yeah, I know everyone is different. I just commented that my worsening (numbness only) neuropathy was contemporaneous with knee replacement, and that is factual. I was not intending to imply causation of any kind. I still have lots of swelling and I hope both conditions improve soon.

Hi @islandfrog, You mentioned it's been almost a couple of months since your knee replacement and you still have lots of swelling which I'm sure could be adding to your symptoms. I know when I had my TKR, my surgeon hammered me about not icing and elevating my leg enough during my recovery. Are you still icing and elevating the leg frequently every day?

He had PT, MRI, EMG, etc. They are finally sending him to Pain Specialist. He has pain- lightning/fire pain from foot to hip and a crushing feeling in his new knee. They could not find anything. They are just saying that he will have to live with it. I have watched him when he gets in pain. He started drinking because pain meds do not work on him. He has not had one good day since his surgery in August of last year.

I tend to agree that swelling is probably a contributing factor. I was on blood thinners for 4 weeks but no ice or elevation. I have 3 months of PT and I asked about elevation and they said its not really important.