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

@staudek Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect, a place to give and get support.

Your husband is experiencing unbearable foot pain since his recent surgery. You are looking to connect with members that can help and/or offer support.

You will notice that I moved your question to a previous discussion related to this topic. I did this so you could connect with members like @rknee @navyqas @carolynstorer @sunnybuns1 @josie1957 @irol that have experience with this topic.

Below I have linked another related discussion that you might find of interest. You may wish to scroll through the posts to find suggestions and ideas.
- Numbness in foot after tkr https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/numbness-in-foot-after-tkr/

In the Joint Replacement group there are many past discussions related to TKR. May I ask if you have had a chance to scroll through and read many of these past discussions?

I personally believe that many surgeons who do TKR surgery do not want to admit that the surgery can and does cause pain elsewhere..especially in feet and lower legs.I had a TKR in Feb of 2020 and have had terrible pain in my feet...more so in the leg with the knee surgery. When he took an X-ray...he said..”The knee looks perfect. Wish I could help you!”
That to me is not an acceptable answer. But...what can I do..but try to get relief elsewhere?Good luck to you.

I had the same problem, like you foot was totally asleep and felt nothing but pain numbness and tingling. I was told by my surgeon it was normal and would go away. They did ultrasound looking for DVTs in my veins but found nothing. I went home miserable and in tears. I kept seeking help but got none. At my 3 wk check was told again it’s normal. At 6+Weeks we saw our primary who said it’s NOT normal. Did an ABI ultrasound and found I had a blocked popliteal artery and had surgery to fix that. They said it was from my TKR surgery. The tingling n numbness got better but is not totally gone. With no blood flow to my foot for 60 days more than likely caused cell n tissue damage and is probably permanent. Will be 2 years Feb. 12. I contacted a lawyer but my surgeon put nothing in my visits about my numb foot so case was dropped. I just can’t believe doctors get away w lying in medical records. I just have to live w a miserable foot, painful knee and a limp worse than before tkr.
Good luck and be an advocate for yourself.

I specifically asked as to any downside when making my decision for TKR, surgeon stated a slight clicking possible and naturally possible infection. That was approx. a year ago, since then i still have not felt a good portion of the bottom of the foot. So you are correct, they do not want you to back out from the operation so just keep quite, it's a money thing, I would have surly backed out if I thought I would never feel my foot again. After reading how many TKR people have long term pain I almost feel lucky just having a numb foot. How sad is that? Because TKR was so common for such a long time I thought it was like falling off a fence, it's NOT and people should know that.

This was my right knee. I had my left knee done in 2013 and had no issues and was excited to get my right done. But my TKR Surgeon sarcastically said at my 1yr ck up ... bet you wish you had never met me! What a jerk! And find out he lied on my visits with him, so he knows you can’t sue him for what he did. I’m so angry that not only having to live w a limp, numb tingling foot, and knee pain that made me retire from my good job but no compensation for the rest of my life. I also ended up w a knee fracture the he won’t do anything with which was caused from no blood flow for 60 days. I’m only 65, can’t walk very far, fear falling, knee pain and can’t do what I want. We were big volunteers and started a Breakfast on the Farm 20 years ago, now can hardly help anymore. Dr’s just don’t care.

I have not had any medical tests to verify the neuropathy. My primary doc & I have discussed it every time I see him, but our decision is to not use Western medicine or medication. I will try the supplement that was posted in the link you sent. I am fairly active, but I am also going to ask my doc to order the ABI test people have talked about in posts. I hardly saw either surgeons again after the surgeries. I did see the first surgeon as my 2nd knee got a hematoma at the end of the incision after a few weeks, he had to open the area up & clean it out. It seemed to heal well. The links you sent were both helpful. Thank you.

Thanks I iwll check on the ultrasound....I wish he would have never had the surgery..the continual pain has made him want to give up...

So sorry he is still in so much pain. If he is wanting to give up and is depressed in any way please get some help. Wanting to give up is not a good sign. I was on an antidepressant at the time off my TKR (since my miscarriage and hysterectomy years ago) but had to increase the dosage after my TKR. You have to be your own advocate and keep looking for help. Took me 6 weeks to get a dr to listen to me but it was to late to totally reverse the damage caused by the pinched popliteal artery. When I told my TKR surgeon all he said was “why did you wait so long you could of lost your leg”.
Take care of both of you. It’s also hard on your spouse.

The only people who really care are your loved ones and people in the same boat as we are, to the the rest it's just a job. As I get older and see my friends pass, I feel lucky to still be doing halfway well.

I know this is a very specific and uncommon response to your question but it happened to me. My life was seriously impacted by foot pain, cramps, symptom's of Morton's Neuroma and more. My ankles stayed swollen. I have total knee replacements in both knees. I have tried many, many things seeking relief with temporary success.
Recently I began seeing a chiropractor. My body was a mess and one day I thought of the surgeries I have had, the falls I have taken and I reasoned that I might be out of alignment. I have scoliosis.
Anyway, long story short, my chiropractor told me my spine was way out of alignment, showed me the x-rays and began a plan of adjustment for me.
Completely unexpected,my feet stopped hurting and
The swelling went down dramatically. Turns out that, in some people, chiropractic adjustment of the L5 area of the spine results in cessation of problems in the feet and ankles.
I believe in compensating for knee pain, back pain, etc. I stressed my body out if shape. Fortunately chiropractic care that included manipulation of the L5 in my spine has resulted in close to 100% relief in my feet. Doctor said it is a small minority of people who have those results.
My back pain is reduced 90%. I am so freaking grateful.