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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?

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jchouseman | @jchouseman | Sep 15 5:12pm

I had a total knee replacement May 21, 2025 and my foot has been numb ever since I woke up from surgery. It doesn't hurt, but it feels like I'm walking on sand all the time, like a grainy feeling on the bottom of my foot. I've had a neurologist conduct a nerve test, and all the nerves seem to be working just fine.
My surgeon was non -committal about possible causes. I'm back to my previous activities like pickleball and swimming, but this sensation in my foot is very strange. I wonder if anyone has tried acupuncture, and if there have been any good results from that?

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franzkafka | @franzkafka | Sep 22 5:53pm
In reply to @norby "The foot pain has been noticeable since I got off of opioids at about 10 days..." + (show)
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The foot pain has been noticeable since I got off of opioids at about 10 days post op, although the numb feeling was present since the day of surgery. The pain is intermittent and can appear at random moments. It can feel like I am standing on hot coals; like I have needles inserted under my toenails; or like the side of my foot has been sliced with a knife. Sometimes anything that touches my foot can set it off, even a bed sheet. The gabapentin does help but it has been a little tricky getting to the right dosage. The only side effect that I have noticed is some drowsiness after taking it, although I can usually push past that if I need to.
I continue to have some swelling in the knee. My surgeon thinks that the neuropathy is related to this swelling and should improve in time. How long did your knee swelling last?
.

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@norby
Your feelings are typical of neuropathy. Not surprised. I had some neuropathy in my foot. Also had it when I had back surgery. Often times it just goes away. Irritation of the nerves during operation causes that and it should improve as your doctor says. Good luck!

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charlotte2955 | @charlotte2955 | 11 hours ago

When I was in hospital I developed sores from the cask front and back of foot and was extremely painful at night and that caused me to have leg spasms which made me scream from pain. Up to now I get it slightly however the sores are better so the spasms calm down.it if I stand a little they swell up so bad and feel like they bursting out of my skin. Please anyone have a solution?

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John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | 3 hours ago
In reply to @charlotte2955 "When I was in hospital I developed sores from the cask front and back of foot..." + (show)
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When I was in hospital I developed sores from the cask front and back of foot and was extremely painful at night and that caused me to have leg spasms which made me scream from pain. Up to now I get it slightly however the sores are better so the spasms calm down.it if I stand a little they swell up so bad and feel like they bursting out of my skin. Please anyone have a solution?

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Hello @charlotte2955, welcome to Connect. Your description that your legs swell up so bad and feel like they are bursting out of your skin sounds really painful and serious. We here on Connect are patients like yourself and this sounds really serious. Have you discussed the symptoms with your doctor or care team? Have they checked the blood circulation in your feet and legs?

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steve161 | @steve161 | 2 hours ago

I was prescribed gabapentin for slight nerve pain in both hands and forearms after injuring my neck in a construction accident. After numerous conversations with other nerve issue patients a common theme emerged and that was side effects from continuous and prolonged use of the drug. One of the patients daughter told me that there has been a lot of progress in reducing the pain with CBD cream products. My daughter found a cream that has taken the edge off of the pain enough to let me sleep at night. Here is a link to the product. To cut down on the cost I purchase 2 at a time on a schedule. And here is a little trick, when you think the tube is empty cut the end off of the tube and you'll discover another 4 or 5 applications hidden close to the cap.
https://www.charlottesweb.com/collections/topicals/products/cbd-cream

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