Should I have knee replacement with neuropathy?

Nice pic. Where is it from?

David

I’m glad you found something that works without opioids.

Good evening @davidpn. Nice to see you on Connect. The Mississippi River photo was taken at Munsinger Gardens in St. Cloud. We have had a long winter and very late Spring. I was very excited to begin walking again and thought the evening sky color with the quiet river was very comforting. We live right on the Mississippi and we also have a swing.. However, the grounds of these gardens are just stunning so I hop in the car and drive five miles several days a week to practice my walking. I am working with my PT from Mayo Clinic to increase my stability and balance.

Do you live near a River?
Chris

My Neuropathy started in 2007, I had a full right knee replacement early 2020 (just before all the craziness started). To my knowledge the knee replacement did not has any negative affect, except that now I can walk without knee pain. The only issue was after the surgery, the Dr at the Hospital could not decide which Pain Medication to give since I was already taking something for the Neuropathy. I had to stay 2 nights and the second night was very bad. I hope this helps.

Hi Chris,

I’m in Glenview just north of Chicago. Use to do many lakefront bike rides but due to age, PN and basically an unsafe city do not do any longer. Have visited Door County in Wisconsin many times. Beautiful country state parks; hiking, biking etc.

Have a hard time walking let alone biking. After 5-10 minutes I need to take a break. New neurologist tells me the exhaustion and fatigue is not due to PN which really surprised me. After all it only made sense that with legs feeling heavy, tired, stiff, sore that fatigue would be caused by that.

So still investigating what’s going on. Had an appt. today with pulmonologist who basically said the heart and lungs looked ok but had some ideas to check out. Have appt. With cardiologist coming up.

I live across from the forest. Lots,of trees here. Reminds me of Door County. I’ll try to send a pic. Thanks for your response.

David (the pic,is,of pond and waterfall, forest on other side).

I have idiopathic PN, diagnosed about 3 years ago when I explained to my new PCP (primary care provider) that my muscle aches felt different from the fibromyalgia aches diagnosed 40+ years ago in my mid-thirties. Am 75 now, PCP that I loved is now deceased. Anyway, I got a full neurological work up, bloodwork, etc, since it’s been 40 years. They diagnosed idiopathic PN. I’ve used an old muscle relaxer on an at needed basis for the fibro for 30 years and still use it - rarely use a OTC pain med. However, for several years now, I’ve found I get stiff as cardboard and can hardly move my legs/feet (have to shuffle them) if I go 2-3 days on less than 8 hrs of sleep. I attribute this to the PN because doctors are clueless and it makes sense to me. The debilitating stiffness is an established pattern, so when I suddenly become stiff (it comes on quickly), I know why. Always not enough sleep. People with post polio syndrome also experience this - their nerves over-compensated for years after childhood paralytic polio and when older, the nerves are just shot. They’re told to rest and don’t overdo exercising. I didn’t have polio, but my symptoms are the same and resolve with rest. Sometimes it takes a few days - lots of rest - to restore the nerve conduction. I’m guessing the nerves are just in overdrive to fire up my muscles - and boom! they can quit suddenly! However, I now have bone on bone OA in left knee - and that knee also gets inflamed because I have a congenital condition discovered during imaging for something else. It’s called bipartite patella - essentially the cartilage that’s supposed to fuse together to make a one bone knee cap during childhood never happened. About 1% of people have this - the two bones are held together with connective tissue that as I age with wear and tear, gets inflamed. I’m overweight, pre-diabetic. Exercise has been hard for me since the fibro diagnosis - I get what’s called “post exertion malaise” after exercising,
one’s entire body feels like the flu. I think it’s the nerves in overdrive, a reaction to exercising. They finally gave a name to this “malaise” a few years ago. I see an orthopedist next week about this OA. I’m not in too much pain - this knee flared up after I decided to try exercising in a warm water therapy pool last month. The knee bends and leg kicks were too much on this knee and I could hardly walk. Imaging revealed bone-on-bone OA. Have been watching videos and doing leg exercises on my own and wear a neoprene brace. Can walk as much as 30 minutes to do grocery shopping or walk around Target - then legs give out because muscles are working hard to stabilize that weak knee. I’m seriously debating if TKR is right for me - the Dr may say no. I’ve not had to take any injections. At 75, with relatively little pain, a rather sedentary life style because I tire easily, I’m still able to do housework and live independently I’m afraid TKR might end all that if it doesn’t work for me. When I hear people say TKR interferes with sleep the first few weeks, I know that means my muscles won’t work because of the PN. Lots to think about! But I think your tiredness is due to PN, as I really think mine is.

I have had idiopathic peripheral neuropathy for 13 years. Manageable without meds. kept active. no night pain. Until about a year ago. I am fairly tolerant of pain I have been told.
Was told by orthopedic surgeon in 2018 that I would need TKR eventually but hold off as long as I could as most TKRs at the time lasted about 15 years. I am a 73 years old female. HTN and this Idiopathic Neuropathy. Slipped and fell on a muddy hill December 2023. Xrays both knees showed bone on bone bilaterally. Got better. Arthritic pain worsened. Had family emergencies. Could not find time for the surgery and recuperative period. After checking out a few surgeons and starting some Physical Therapy to strengthen legs, I was told about and seen by a surgeon who does Jiffy Knee TKR! …a muscle sparing incision, medial side of knee, cuts thru no muscles! Pain is less and recuperative time is shorter! Was booked twice this year but family emergencies, (Icu stays and rehab stays kept me busy.). I am now booked to have my left knee done in a bit less than a month. The knee arthritis pain on left has really increased, can only bend the knee minimally, and I walk with a limp for the last 4-5 months. (so now hip and low back hurt as well).
So, I MUST get this fixed. Has anyone had experience with Jiffy TKR? Has anyone who has idiopathic peripheral neuropathy (IPN) had this Jiffy TKR? And most importantly, is it written in stone that IPN patients will have difficult post op experience after TKR? I was feeling up eat until I read this thread…

I am 77 and have idiopathic peripheral neuropathy and had a minimally invasive TKR July 25, 2024. I'm not sure if that's the same as Jiffy Knee. My incision is much smaller than most and off to the medial side. Both of my hips have been replaced as well (2013, 2016). My neurologist warned me that my neuropathy in the affected TKR leg might get worse, and he was right! Although my recovery has been very good, I went through a tough period during the first three months of neuropathy exacerbation. I describe it as a combination of sunburn, fire ant bites and bee stings on my surgery leg - all happening at the same time. After adjusting my gabapentin dose and adding 600 mg of alpha lipoic acid, magnesium, and occasional meloxicam, it has calmed down somewhat. I also use Mama Bear cream at night. It is very soothing and helps my feet and lower legs feel less numb and tight. My spinal stenosis and pinched nerves in my back don't help, but I'm strict about doing the exercises and stretches my PT recommends. I also do water aerobics and Silver Sneakers classes and take walks whenever I can. Recovery from TKR is a full-time job so set your mind to that. The surgery is the easy part. After 10 months, I can get through most days without thinking too much about my legs, and those days are a win! I plan to stay active until the LORD has other plans for me.