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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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poppy1 | @poppy1 | Feb 26, 2022

I had a tkr 2 weeks ago. When I got out of bed the next day after surgery I felt like I was standing on broken glass especially in the region of my arch. This had subsided after two days into numbness which I’m still experiencing. I had a lot of bruising in the ankle area, behind my knee and down the back of leg. Has anyone else had this and does it eventually resolve itself, it’s quite disconcerting

REPLY
2 replies
phigg | @phigg | Mar 5, 2022

I have the same problem almost 3 weeks after TKR. I can manage during the day but can’t sleep at night. The discomfort actually wakes me up . My PT is going well otherwise but this is very hard to deal with.

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3 replies
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Mar 5, 2022
In reply to @phigg "I have the same problem almost 3 weeks after TKR. I can manage during the day..." + (show)
@phigg

I have the same problem almost 3 weeks after TKR. I can manage during the day but can’t sleep at night. The discomfort actually wakes me up . My PT is going well otherwise but this is very hard to deal with.

Jump to this post

Welcome @phigg, I had a lot of trouble sleeping after my TKR also, mainly because I'm a side sleeper by nature and sleeping on my back is a problem for me. I used a wedge pillow for awhile and it helped and also used a couple of differnt types of pillows after that to raise my leg with the TKR but I had the pillows more under the foot and just above the ankle and not under the knee. There are a couple of good YouTube videos with tips and suggestions for sleeping at step 10 of this article:
10 Tips to Master Sleep After Knee Replacement Surgery: https://totalkneereplacementrecovery.net/10-tips-to-master-sleep-after-knee-replacement-surgery/

Later I purchased a adjustable bed with a zero gravity position and it makes it ideal for sleeping with a knee replacement. Have you tried sleeping in a recliner to see if that helps?

REPLY
2 replies
dee05 | @dee05 | Mar 6, 2022
In reply to @poppy1 "I had a tkr 2 weeks ago. When I got out of bed the next day..." + (show)
@poppy1

I had a tkr 2 weeks ago. When I got out of bed the next day after surgery I felt like I was standing on broken glass especially in the region of my arch. This had subsided after two days into numbness which I’m still experiencing. I had a lot of bruising in the ankle area, behind my knee and down the back of leg. Has anyone else had this and does it eventually resolve itself, it’s quite disconcerting

Jump to this post

I experienced neuropathy but not immediately after surgery and it involved pretty much my toes only and mostly in the operative side and mostly at night. I could not bear to have the bed covers touch my toes. You're right, it was very disconcerting and I had visions of having it for the rest of my life. Happily, though, it resolved after about four months, give or take. So, with me anyway, it was a time limited side effect. Hopefully yours will be, too. Good luck.

REPLY
1 reply
dee05 | @dee05 | Mar 6, 2022
In reply to @phigg "I have the same problem almost 3 weeks after TKR. I can manage during the day..." + (show)
@phigg

I have the same problem almost 3 weeks after TKR. I can manage during the day but can’t sleep at night. The discomfort actually wakes me up . My PT is going well otherwise but this is very hard to deal with.

Jump to this post

Hang in there. See my reply to "poppy1" above.

REPLY
suecutuli | @suecutuli | Mar 6, 2022
In reply to @poppy1 "I had a tkr 2 weeks ago. When I got out of bed the next day..." + (show)
@poppy1

I had a tkr 2 weeks ago. When I got out of bed the next day after surgery I felt like I was standing on broken glass especially in the region of my arch. This had subsided after two days into numbness which I’m still experiencing. I had a lot of bruising in the ankle area, behind my knee and down the back of leg. Has anyone else had this and does it eventually resolve itself, it’s quite disconcerting

Jump to this post

Yes the severe ankle pain with bruising. I guess it was just the blood leaving. It only last 2 weeks but it was very painful.

REPLY
1 reply
phigg | @phigg | Mar 6, 2022
In reply to @johnbishop "Welcome @phigg, I had a lot of trouble sleeping after my TKR also, mainly because I'm..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Welcome @phigg, I had a lot of trouble sleeping after my TKR also, mainly because I'm a side sleeper by nature and sleeping on my back is a problem for me. I used a wedge pillow for awhile and it helped and also used a couple of differnt types of pillows after that to raise my leg with the TKR but I had the pillows more under the foot and just above the ankle and not under the knee. There are a couple of good YouTube videos with tips and suggestions for sleeping at step 10 of this article:
10 Tips to Master Sleep After Knee Replacement Surgery: https://totalkneereplacementrecovery.net/10-tips-to-master-sleep-after-knee-replacement-surgery/

Later I purchased a adjustable bed with a zero gravity position and it makes it ideal for sleeping with a knee replacement. Have you tried sleeping in a recliner to see if that helps?

Jump to this post

I’m now using a pillow under my foot. It helps a bit but the foot pain flares in the early morning hours and I just get up , take pain meds, walk a bit and then I sleep for a couple hours more. I’m trying gabapentin this evening. I hope it helps as I find I can’t sleep in a bed or a recliner. Thanks for your post 😊

REPLY
1 reply
phigg | @phigg | Mar 6, 2022
In reply to @dee05 "I experienced neuropathy but not immediately after surgery and it involved pretty much my toes only..." + (show)
@dee05

I experienced neuropathy but not immediately after surgery and it involved pretty much my toes only and mostly in the operative side and mostly at night. I could not bear to have the bed covers touch my toes. You're right, it was very disconcerting and I had visions of having it for the rest of my life. Happily, though, it resolved after about four months, give or take. So, with me anyway, it was a time limited side effect. Hopefully yours will be, too. Good luck.

Jump to this post

Thank you! That gives me hope that this is temporary and I just have to keep pushing through it😊

REPLY
Mentor
Chris Trout, Volunteer Mentor | @artscaping | Mar 6, 2022
In reply to @phigg "I’m now using a pillow under my foot. It helps a bit but the foot pain..." + (show)
@phigg

I’m now using a pillow under my foot. It helps a bit but the foot pain flares in the early morning hours and I just get up , take pain meds, walk a bit and then I sleep for a couple hours more. I’m trying gabapentin this evening. I hope it helps as I find I can’t sleep in a bed or a recliner. Thanks for your post 😊

Jump to this post

Hi there @phigg, Oh dear.....I didn't see the word ICE in your discussion so I would just like to remind you that ICE is one of the best answers for controlling TKR pain and discomfort. You mention that you get up in the early morning hours. Is that about 5 am? That's when the pain woke me up and the first thing I did was get out the ice knee brace and wrap it around my knee before putting my foot on a pillow or riser. I actually purchased of the ice braces from Vive Health so that I would always have one ready. Swelling is another reason to use the ice brace. It has extra ice bags that fit in pockets in the back. That helps with the pain and the swelling. Wishing you a continued positive recovery.
Chris

REPLY
1 reply
jilliemo12345 | @jilliemo12345 | Mar 6, 2022
In reply to @johnbishop "Welcome @phigg, I had a lot of trouble sleeping after my TKR also, mainly because I'm..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Welcome @phigg, I had a lot of trouble sleeping after my TKR also, mainly because I'm a side sleeper by nature and sleeping on my back is a problem for me. I used a wedge pillow for awhile and it helped and also used a couple of differnt types of pillows after that to raise my leg with the TKR but I had the pillows more under the foot and just above the ankle and not under the knee. There are a couple of good YouTube videos with tips and suggestions for sleeping at step 10 of this article:
10 Tips to Master Sleep After Knee Replacement Surgery: https://totalkneereplacementrecovery.net/10-tips-to-master-sleep-after-knee-replacement-surgery/

Later I purchased a adjustable bed with a zero gravity position and it makes it ideal for sleeping with a knee replacement. Have you tried sleeping in a recliner to see if that helps?

Jump to this post

I second the recliner for sleeping, I used one and found it comfortable while maintaining the position of my knee.
This greatly reduces the pain I was having at night.

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