Foot pain post arthroscopic knee surgery

Welcome to Connect, @cmartz.
According to this study, one of the major causes of pain after arthroscopic knee surgery is nerve entrapment or nerve compression. Some typical examples are: pain in the ball of the foot after neuroma surgery or pain radiating down the leg to the foot after knee surgery, or persistent heel pain even after plantar fascia surgery. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5672866/

I’d like to bring @ellerbracke @anniebrook @grandmar @lynnwade54 @santi into this discussion, as they might be able to offer their thoughts about the foot pain.You may also be interested in reading this discussion:
– knee scope https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/knee-scope/
– When to start PT https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/when-to-start-pt/

Although this discussion is titled, "scar tissue after knee replacement” https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/scar-tissue-after-knee-replacement/ there are many fellow members – @rayreich3 @dickiedo @amywood20 and many others – whose experiences might also provide some insight into the pain you are experiencing.

What does your doctor say, @cmartz? How are you managing the pain at present?

It was diagnosed as extensor hallucis tendonitis. I'm doing some foot stretching and it's getting better.

Post right knee arthroscopy

I’m day 11 after a knee arthroscopy for a torn meniscus and arthritis scraping. No improvement, still using crutches, and painful. Anyone else who has had this experience?

Hi @sloops and welcome. It can be disappointing to not notice improvement almost 2 weeks post arthroscopy. You'll notice that I moved your question to this existing discussion about knee arthroscopy. I did this so you can connect with other members like @cmartz. You may also be interested in reading this discussion:
– knee scope https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/knee-scope/
– When to start PT https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/when-to-start-pt/

Did your surgeon give you a timeline for when you should start to see improvement in the pain level and be able to ditch the crutches?

I recently had an out-patient arthroscopic surgery on my knee to repair a fracture of the knee. Was given a nerve block for the surgery.

Recovery was longer than expected and when I regained consciousness I had almost unbearable pain in my foot. It felt like someone had taken a sledgehammer to it.

As I was the last patient scheduled for the day, the anesthesiologist and orthopedic surgeon had left before I woke. The recovery nurse was at a loss for what she could do for me and her shift was ending. I was given two Tylenol 3 orally, dressed and brought out to be taken home.

The pain medication helped some but it was a very long night. I called the surgeon office the next day explaining my foot pain. Was told that fluids from the surgery may have leaked into the foot.

I was called by medical assistant for the 24hr checkup and was given post op instructions for a total knee replacement. Halfway through the phone call she realized I did not have a total knee replacement and pretty much ended the conversation. I asked again about the foot pain and was told it could be from the leg stabilizer that was used to hold my leg in place.

I am 8 days post op and haven’t heard anything further from surgeon office. I have follow up appointment in 4 days. I’m still experiencing some pain in foot but am still confused about why.

Anyone else ever experience this? I can deal with pain much better if I understand it.

Hello @christeb and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I completely understand being able to deal with pain better if you can understand it.

For that reason, I have moved your post into an existing discussion on foot pain after arthroscopic knee surgery so to better allow you to connect with other members such as @cmartz and @grandmar who may be able to offer their thoughts on your foot pain.

As @kanaazpereira mentioned previously in this discussion, you may look into nerve entrapment or nerve compression. She had posted this study if interested:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5672866/
What are you currently doing for the foot pain?

Thank you for responding. Currently I am taking ibuprofen.

I am experiencing the same pain after the same operation

Hello @suelottering, Welcome to Connect. I'm not sure if you read a post earlier in this discussion but I'm wondering if the following article that was referenced might be helpful.

Transient Common Peroneal and Tibial Nerve Palsy Following Knee Arthroscopy for the Treatment of Discoid Lateral Meniscus:
-- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5672866/

I’d like to bring @ellerbracke @christeb @grandmar and @janicemmccarthy into this discussion, as they might be able to offer their thoughts about the foot pain.

Do you mind sharing how you are currently handling the pain or if you have discussed it with your doctor or surgeon?

I had a second knee replacement on January 28, 2020. Of course I missed PT due to being shut down due to covid. I eventually got PT a year later. My knee is always stiff and still have to ice it constantly. I take Aleve and occassionaly tramadrol. Nothing seems to ease it and I can no longer walk long distances