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Should I have an IOVERA injection before a TKR?
Joint Replacements | Last Active: Nov 13, 2025 | Replies (22)Comment receiving replies
@lindielulu - Again, thank you so much for your kind words of encouragement! When I see the doctor for the Iovera, first, I will be very groggy because I will be taking Ativan beforehand. I was going to ask him how many times the Iovera didn't work for his patients (even though, he may tell me beforehand himself) but since he works with my surgeon..I am hoping it's a much higher number that is successful, rather than not, since they are still using it..plus, the surgeon I was seeing before (he doesn't do robotic, and I want that) said that Iovera is what he is suggesting for his patients, as well, now. Exparel used to be used with most doctors out here (and before that, it was the On-Q nerve block that is a continuous lidocaine type of med that stays on your leg for approximately 3 days). (My husband had that, and then they stopped using it now...not sure why.) And the Exparel was also 'stopped' due to the expense of that block (which could have lasted for up to 5 days)....this is what drives me crazy...how the 'dollar' is what takes over and leaves many people SOL, so to speak, instead of putting the patient's comfort first..! Time usually changes things, since I did not have a nerve block in my back for my double spinal fusion back in 2009, and now they use it (from what I've been told, though, it's only a 2-3 hour block) so I think sometimes it's a crapshoot! All I can do is express how I feel, and ask for what I want, and then hold my breath!!!
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@catheem That's good that you are going to ask before he gives it to you, I didn't even think of doing that. I am having my TKR on the 21st of this month. The doctor has a youtube video and he explained how the robot assisted, etc and again, I assumed he used it in every circumstance. I saw one thing that made me question if he used it every time and I called his nurse and she said sometimes he does and sometimes he doesn't. This really upset me because I chose him because he advertised that he did (also my neighbor used him and did fine) I hate that I had to question this, seems like it was a given, but I did and nurse called me back and said he would use robot "if I requested". What???? He never mentioned that it was a choice so my confidence level has been lowered some. What else should I ask that I am assuming? I just know I have to do it and I am tired of having all these questions. I ran errands today and every step was so painful, I am just ready to do something, prayer is what is getting me through. You and I sound very much alike, we try to get the answers but not confident that we got them. And yes, money is such a factor when it shouldn't be. The doctor did tell me about the morphine pump and he said family members would be in with the patient and the moment they groaned a little, someone would reach over and press the button which kept the patient drugged all the time and they didn't get the PT that they needed so I guess that's why they have done away with that. You are in my prayers for success!