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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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Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Aug 24, 2020
In reply to @stp258 "I am 4 weeks post tkr. My spinal took 30 hrs for foot to recover from..." + (show)
@stp258

I am 4 weeks post tkr. My spinal took 30 hrs for foot to recover from numbness. I am making rehab progress but always have slight pins n needles in foot and weak ankles. Things are worse now at 4 weeks. Afraid of permanent nerve damage. Help!

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Hello @stp258, You will notice we merged your discussion with an existing discussion on foot neuropathy after total knee replacement. If you click the VIEW & REPLY button in this notification it will take you to the discussion where you can meet @billjan1950, @jnoronha, @navyqas and other members discussing numbness and other symptoms after a TKR.

Have you had a chance to talk with your surgeon or care team about the numbness?

REPLY
stp258 | @stp258 | Aug 25, 2020
In reply to @jill31 "I too experienced changes in the feeling of the souls of my feet after knee replacement..." + (show)
@jill31

I too experienced changes in the feeling of the souls of my feet after knee replacement surgery. For me, the sensations or feeling were like intense and continuous pins and needles in the souls of my feet. Taking off -and putting in - bed socks has helped but eight weeks after surgery, the sensations or feelings remain uncomfortable and at times, prevent sleeping.
Like the earlier correspondent, I have been advised (by my surgical team) that the discomfort may subside as time goes on, but they also said that the discomfort may never go away completely.
I do think that there seems to be a whole range of disability aspects that may remain after total knee surgery, which are not made plain before surgery. These various outcomes (ie. continuing numbness of areas around the knee, the aforementioned souls of the feet numbness and pins and needles sensations etc.,) should really be known, as possible outcomes, by patients, before surgery occurs.

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I do agree. It was a very difficult choice to have surgery because while bone on bone in part of my knee, the rest was still ok and I got by with meds except walking any distance was difficult. I was not told about outside knee numbness and possible nerve damage which I now have. I’m worse than before surgery physically and mentally a wreck.

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1 reply
navyqas | @navyqas | Aug 25, 2020
In reply to @stp258 "I do agree. It was a very difficult choice to have surgery because while bone on..." + (show)
@stp258

I do agree. It was a very difficult choice to have surgery because while bone on bone in part of my knee, the rest was still ok and I got by with meds except walking any distance was difficult. I was not told about outside knee numbness and possible nerve damage which I now have. I’m worse than before surgery physically and mentally a wreck.

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(my opinion) You can't stay on meds without some serious things going wrong IN TIME from them, so you had to have the TKR sooner or later, the meds would just mess you up and not let know about it until some serious internal problem developed. My TKR knee turned out real good, I am very satisfied after 5 months, the numbness of the foot is another story, it is the same as day two after TKR, I have tried everything to make it go away, from special vitamins (for nerve damage) to extreme exercise, to deep tissue massage, nothing worked. As disturbing as it is (heel & ball foot numbness) it does not stop any activity and believe it or not I think I am getting used to it somewhat.
Chin up, at least knee pain will stop.
PS I did make an appointment with a neurologist, takes 1,5 months to see them here in NJ, they will not be able to do anything but at least I will know were the nerve damage is coming from, No more cutting me up if I can help it.

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1 reply
stp258 | @stp258 | Aug 25, 2020
In reply to @navyqas "(my opinion) You can't stay on meds without some serious things going wrong IN TIME from..." + (show)
@navyqas

(my opinion) You can't stay on meds without some serious things going wrong IN TIME from them, so you had to have the TKR sooner or later, the meds would just mess you up and not let know about it until some serious internal problem developed. My TKR knee turned out real good, I am very satisfied after 5 months, the numbness of the foot is another story, it is the same as day two after TKR, I have tried everything to make it go away, from special vitamins (for nerve damage) to extreme exercise, to deep tissue massage, nothing worked. As disturbing as it is (heel & ball foot numbness) it does not stop any activity and believe it or not I think I am getting used to it somewhat.
Chin up, at least knee pain will stop.
PS I did make an appointment with a neurologist, takes 1,5 months to see them here in NJ, they will not be able to do anything but at least I will know were the nerve damage is coming from, No more cutting me up if I can help it.

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Thank you for your thoughts. I am 5 weeks out and knee is doing well. Numbness and tingling in foot is disturbing, but may end up having to live with it. I do plan to have a conversation with my surgeon and probably a neurologist. Happy you can continue your activities. I am working on being positive, thou difficult. But your reply helped! Thanks again

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1 reply
klarnold | @klarnold | Aug 25, 2020

I think we all could compile a good true to fact honest book of the realty of difficulties. Yes I'm still dealing with the foot pain, tingle feeling, l keep busy during the day & nightime my foot is hypo sensitive to bed linen, so made a frame to keep linen of my foot, plus when l wakeup frequently flexing foot 3hr walk around the house. I dream of nightly foot massage (but live alone & plus had THR opposite side 12mths ago) but use a spike massage ball to help. My main concerns is l'm post opp 9wks & the bend isn't good. I just keep hoping & staying postive. Exercises x3 daily, started short 1klm walks ( waited until balance & ability to stand improved, pain with standing can be intolerable/ low replacement site strength) Hydro exercise pool x5 wily 1-2 hrs. I'm Enjoying our QLD Australia sunshine

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navyqas | @navyqas | Aug 25, 2020
In reply to @stp258 "Thank you for your thoughts. I am 5 weeks out and knee is doing well. Numbness..." + (show)
@stp258

Thank you for your thoughts. I am 5 weeks out and knee is doing well. Numbness and tingling in foot is disturbing, but may end up having to live with it. I do plan to have a conversation with my surgeon and probably a neurologist. Happy you can continue your activities. I am working on being positive, thou difficult. But your reply helped! Thanks again

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For what it's worth, my surgeon said I would be playing golf in three months after the TKR. I don't play golf but I got his point, he was very close, 4 or 5 months after the TKR you will be glad you had it. I have NO knee pain now and am able to walk and SLEEP well. Yes, the foot bottom is numb, but that is better than knee pain. 5 weeks out I had all kinds of serious pain, 5 months now I have none, so hold on, it's still very early for you.

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suzanne2 | @suzanne2 | Aug 25, 2020

@navyqas I had both hips replaced and since then have numbness and tingling in both feet. The last THR was in 2018 and nothing has taken the neuropathy symptoms away. I feel like I have a pair of permanent socks on. A Neurologist at Mayo said I have to live with it.

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2 replies
navyqas | @navyqas | Aug 25, 2020
In reply to @suzanne2 "@navyqas I had both hips replaced and since then have numbness and tingling in both feet...." + (show)
@suzanne2

@navyqas I had both hips replaced and since then have numbness and tingling in both feet. The last THR was in 2018 and nothing has taken the neuropathy symptoms away. I feel like I have a pair of permanent socks on. A Neurologist at Mayo said I have to live with it.

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I guess the bottom line is (that no one talks about until it happens to them) the nerve damage that very well happens from surgery. I sure never herd of it.They made it sound like a walk in the park, not sme permanent outcome for life! Still there is always hope and sometimes our bodies have a way of correcting things in time, I would never give up thinking that.

REPLY
klarnold | @klarnold | Aug 27, 2020
In reply to @suzanne2 "@navyqas I had both hips replaced and since then have numbness and tingling in both feet...." + (show)
@suzanne2

@navyqas I had both hips replaced and since then have numbness and tingling in both feet. The last THR was in 2018 and nothing has taken the neuropathy symptoms away. I feel like I have a pair of permanent socks on. A Neurologist at Mayo said I have to live with it.

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Hang in there where cheering you along towards pain free, good comfortable health.

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