← Return to Foot neuropathy (numbness and pain) after total knee replacement (TKR)

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@irol

Thank you for the detailed information. I have had numbness and pain in my right foot after TKR in that leg. The surgeon said it has nothing to do with the surgery and that I probably have back issues. It was excruciating for months after surgery, and the sheet touching my big toe would be horrible. I am three months out from surgery now and it has improved incredibly. My foot does not keep me awake at night now the way it did. It seemed like as my flexion degrees increased gradually, the foot pain decreased. It coincided when I started focusing earnestly on stretching the quads by pulling my leg up towards my buttocks with a strap while lying on my stomach. When I did the flexion exercise for my knee by bending it up with a strap while lying on my back, I could feel a psinful pull along the outside if my foot. Everything was so tight. Some exercises I coukd not do because of the pain in my foot so it was getting in the way of rehabbing the knee. It seems that when I started going on my bike (on a trainer) longer and more rigorously, the foot pain was very bad,with my sneaker exacerbating it, but then it got gradually less. It is weird that it comes and goes. Some days I barely notice it and other times it gets very noticeable at the end of the day. I started doing lunges this week and now the foot is acting up. I have taken the attitude that I Will not focus on it and just work through the rehab exercises for my knee, expecting that it will graduslly subside. I do have an appointment with a neurologist fir an EMG. What specislist will do an ABI? I want to look into that. My foot used to be extremely cold and get white. Now the color and temperature are fine! Another thing I should say is that from my observation, it seems to be linked to the swelling in my knee. My knee was extremely swollen all the time until a couple of weeks ago, but it seemed to make my whole leg, back, quads,hamstring, very tight, which seemed linked to the foot problem.

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Replies to "Thank you for the detailed information. I have had numbness and pain in my right foot..."

The ABI was just scheduled by my primary and was done by an ultrasound tech. Took very little time to do. Just put blood pressure like cuffs on ankles and arms all at the same time. Then did ankles and top of thighs. I did have the EMG testing done, but he did not finish the testing because with one part of it he pressed behind my knee and the incision from my artery surgery started bleeding in one spot so he didn't finish the test. I am taking Plavix from my popliteal artery surgery and I do bleed and bruise easily. Just an FYI, my primary did tell me the EMG test is uncomfortable and can be painful.
My foot as well is better some days and worse if I am on my feet a lot. I have no swelling in the morning, but by evenings my calf and ankle is a little swollen. I am taking Gabapentin for the nerve pain which does help but does not totally get rid of the pain, but makes it tolerable.

Your description sounds nearly exactly to my wife's: foot pain elevated at the end of the day, worse after a day of exercise, etc. She also has been wondering is if it is linked to swelling in the knee, much like you mention.I will encourage her to continue her flexion exercises -- she does similar ones that you describe. Thanks for your information --- I think your condition is just like my wife's.