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

I need help,my feet feels like that are on fire

As I reported in this discussion before and as Norby mentioned in an article published regarding knee replacement and numbness in lower extremities, it appears that people with lumbar problems (of which I do not have) and those with the tourniquet left on along with longer anesthesia during surgery, were at risk for lower extremity numbness. Now that there is some evidence to conclude that this happened, I would like to know what can be done, if anything, for this problem. I have been on gabapentin for 2 months and I am still having numbness in my right large toe and right foot. I am curious to know if anyone out there has achieved success with the gabapentin, possibly by taking the drug for a longer duration?

After reading about gabapentin, I would rather take my chances with nature on my nerve. I have a total numb heal and partial ball of my foot also numb, Talk about being on target with with your Norby article, I have lumbar problems + tourniquet left on VERY long (3 hours) 3 hours anesthesia also when I was told 1.5 hours was typical. I went into this operation in top physical condition (except for the knee) now I hurt not just in my knee, now my foot also. Sleep about 3 hours a night due to the knee pain, and foot pains me when walking, it's been 3.5 weeks since the operation. Surgeon stated nerves take a very long time to correct, kinda wish I never let him touch me now.
I believe your nerve will either correct itself in time or not on it's own, I would not destroy other good parts of my body with chemicals trying to fix something (your nerve) that may come around in time.

I specifically asked my surgeon what possible downsides that could happen after knee replacement, he said always chance of infection and a slight clicking in the knee, NOTHING about this numb foot and nerve damage. Now he says probably a back problem, ha ha. But the total bill for the THREE hours was over $180,000, they got 34K from the insurance and I am worse off then I was. What a system we have here, they say it's the best, hate to see the worst!

In reply to: @sap09 and @navqas
I was just told numbness and tingling in the foot/leg was normal. Not in my case. I was black and blue from to tourniquet for weeks. They could not find the nerve for the nerve block to my knee to help with pain after surgery. BUT the worst was the surgeon pinched the popliteal artery behind my knee cutting off the blood supply from the knee to the tip of my toes. tried several Drs. got same answer...that's normal!! Finally had appt. with my primary and she said no it is not normal to have numbness, purple toes that turned white sometimes, and ice cold foot all the time and ordered an ABI test of my legs. test showed pressure of 1.6 left leg/.4 right leg. and was sent to cardiologist who ordered an angiogram that proved the artery was truly BLOCKED because of the knee replacement surgery. SO another 6+ hour surgery to open the artery and put on blood thinners for months! BUT since it was 60 days without blood flow to my foot, not ALL the numbness and tingly was gone, but it is better compared to what it was before. I still have some numbness but stopped the gabapentin (felt no different after than before) and it is now 14 months from my TKR. My artery surgeon said I could have permanent damage to the cells and nerves in my foot with the lack of blood flow. TKR surgeon says could take 3+ years to heal nerves at 1mm a day from back to foot. He has never said he's sorry that this happened and that he did anything wrong!!! just I suppose there is a law suit and I'm sure you wished you never came to me! He was supposed to be the BEST knee and hip person in the area.
I hate the feeling in my foot and can't go barefoot even in the house. I have to have shoes on or it gets worse and feels cold.
I did find a chiropractor that says he can help but with COVID-19 I haven't been back to him since the consult and testing he did to get results and his plan.
Best of luck!

I feel so badly for your situation. I had various weird nerve problems in my foot after I had tkr last year. Had neurology snd muscle tests, etc. It seemed to be a lot better when I was really active, like going on a 50 mile bike ride. When winter came again, Inwas working out in gym and using a stayionary bike at home. The numbness and problem hardly ever appeared and then just about exactly a year after surgery in Feb I broke a bone in that foot (A ladder broke and I fell off of it). I have had to wear an air boot all of rhe time for past 3 months. I started having the problems all over again and now it feels like the second and third toes are melded together. They are all cold all the time and numb. I am hoping that it is because I have not been using them or moving them much. The doctor said "oh, you had a problem before, right?" And that is all. As if that is a reason not to be concerned or do anything about it. They all think I am crazy.

I had tkr a year ago and I am still numb in foot plus knee clicks with every step. I woke up with neuropathy in my foot and was told wii take up to a year to heal. Here we are a year later and still there. Ready to call a lawyer

@sandie2749 I can understand you wanting to call a lawyer after being in pain for so long, but honestly, most probably nothing will come of it. I knew a woman who was in agony for two years. She finally found an orthopedic surgeon who figured out her problem, and it was definitely an error on the part of the original surgeon. He fixed it and she tried to sue but it was impossible. I think there has to be willful neglect which is impossible to prove.
I hope you are seeking other opinions, from the best possible orthopedic surgeons available. Go out of the area where the original doctor is, doctors tend to be reluctant to say anything negative about another doctor in the same area. We are in southern NH and the surgeon who found the problem and fixed it is in Boston, at a major medical center. Those are the best places to go for something like this.
I hope you can find a resolution to your problem, no one should be in real pain like that for so long. I have had two TKRs. Granted, when I do a lot of exercise one in particular will be uncomfortable the next day but I wouldn't say it's pain. My biggest problem is that I don't have quite as much flex as I would like, but I can live with what I have -- about 120°.
JK

Thanks for your response, I’m glad you told me about Boston and if you know the name of the surgeon can you please inform me. My niece and nephew live in Boston and he is a foot doctor so I could stay there and see the orthopedic

14 months out and still have clicking. Knee wants to give out sometimes while just standing and numb foot. Wad told same thing give it a year. Then told 2 years now 3 years. But my numb foot came from the popliteal artery being pinch off during TKR. Finally my primary said it's not normal. I had surgery on the artery. Then had nerve testing done which showed nerve damage. My back had also been giving me new issues. Had a steroid injection in my back and that surgeon told me my TKR surgeon pinched more than my artery. It is never a Drs fault! Or at least that they will admit to.
Good luck