Neuropathy after TKR: I'm 68 and fearful of future

Hi there @lubelle. I see that Rachel @rwinney suggested that you visit with the SFN folks. So.....welcome, welcome, welcome. You know this forum is all about sharing. We believe that knowledge is power and when we can share our experiences with others, we learn. So, your son is a go-getter with developing SFN, (small fiber neuropathy). Along with the physical symptoms of pain and probably loss of strength, he has episodes of anxiety and depression. I can write this because I have been there, and except for the anxiety and depression, I still am "there," coping daily with sometimes quite progressive pain, tingling, numbness, and the forever-present fatigue. It takes a lot of energy to fight for reasonable control of your mind and body every day.

Although there is no cure for SFN, there are a number of helpful products, medications, and support programs that can improve your son's quality of life. I have a couple of preparatory notes for you. 1. Re: VM202 and other suspicious treatments, the reason I say suspicious is that as of this moment there is no known nerve regenerating process, treatment or medication. Please be careful. I will let John "@johnbishop. explain how shysters can appear very quickly in this world. 2. I read that your son will be visiting in August, at which time you plan to discuss SFN with him. John will help you find good resources by national organizations. And I have only one question......Is SFN a discussion that you have had previously with your son? I have a daughter older than your son and what I hear sometimes when I offer what I consider to be helpful information is, "Mom, You have it all wrong, etc., etc." I have to choose my words carefully.

Please know that you now have three Connect mentors and that we are here for you.....just as you are there for your son.

May you have contentment and peace.
Chris

I already have neuropathy. I am terrified of having a TKR.

@emily75, I understand where you are coming from. I too was afraid of having a TKR when my knee was getting worse day by day and nothing else was helping. I have had neuropathy for 20+ years and was afraid it would make it worse. I finally had to make a decision on whether I wanted to continue with my knee getting worse day by day or have the knee replaced and take a chance on making the neuropathy worse. I'm glad I had the knee replacement. It didn't make my neuropathy worse and I'm hoping your story will be the same.

Good luck on your decision.

7 weeks since tkr and knee feels fine but like others I’m numb on out side of knee. The problem is, I’m active riding my bike and walking but in the last three weeks My chin muscle on knee replacement side is in excruciating pain. When I wake up or sit at a desk for hours, I can barely walk. It feels like a broken leg- but it is only in the chin area. It’s takes about 4 hours or so to stop hurting so much. My pt said it is just nerves awakening. And that is the only thing that hurts. My knee is good. Please help

I think you are referring to your shin? It is very common for the nerves there to be damaged during TKR, and then have to heal and regenerate. The feeling is NOT pleasant. Nerves regenerate very slowly, but over time your brain accepts the feeling and it becomes less noticeable.

One thing does concern me though - you say " or sit at a desk for hours" - at this point in your recovery, whenever you are sitting for more than a few minutes, you ought to be elevating and icing your knee. @johnbishop can tell you about the advice he got from his doc after TKR.

Have you returned to work?
Sue

7 weeks post TKR is still early in the recovery process. I agree with @sueinmn, if you are sitting for hours, you need to figure out a way to elevate the leg and ice it when you are sitting. That was the one thing my surgeon emphasized after my TKR followup meeting with him when I told him I was only elevating the leg several times a day along with icing it. He said if I wasn't walking around and doing something the leg should be elevated during the recovery process. It did help with my recovery.

The one thing you mentioned that I would discuss with my surgeon is the pain only in the shin area. Here's some information on what might be causing the shin pain.

"Nerve pain — During knee replacement surgery, there is a small chance that your peroneal nerve could have been damaged. The peroneal nerve is the nerve that travels down the leg past the knee. If your shin pain is nerve related, it may be accompanied by numbness, itching or tingling sensations."
-- Shin Pain After Knee Replacement: https://totaltherapysolutions.com/shin-pain-after-knee-replacement/

Are you still doing the post op exercises for the TKR at home along with icing and elevating? I think I would discuss the pain with your surgeon?

Hi John . Thank you for being there for all us.
….. Have looked into FIBER MIALGIA.!!!!! as it relates to my Neuro of my Ft and hands/ 14 yrs now.

to be diagnosed, a RA REMUTOLIGIST is the specialist in need .
Advice.

the importance is to treat with MEDs are available for it. F.M, CREATES TO Much ACTIVITY IN THE BRAIN. IT REVEALS IN OUR BODYS AS …PAIN ALL OVER. Other symptoms also. Look for list…

Best description Is described as”DRUMS PLAYING AT ITS MAX!!!!!
the task is to QUIET DOWN and TO PLAY SOFTER. Thus less or no pain.

Am seeking and need your help if I should or not persist to be tested.

I have not seen much conversation about.

Did you understand me?

Carlos
Please let’s pray for each .

Hi Carlos, If I understand correctly you think you may have fibromyalgia and are looking for more information? Here are some discussions and reference links that might help you learn more.

-- Have you found anything to successfully treat fibromyalgia pain?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/dealing-with-fibromyalgia-pain/
-- fibromyalgia Tests and Medications: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/fibromyalgia-tests-and-medications/
-- Fibromyalgia: Understand how it's diagnosed: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fibromyalgia/in-depth/fibromyalgia-symptoms/art-20045401
-- National Fibromyalgia Association, FM and chronic pain: https://www.fmaware.org/

Thank you ..

This is it.

Sorry for the mistake/.

Not sure where to start a new
Conversation..

Will look into

Blessings always/

Ps
DON’t BE FEARFUL OF
FUTURE…. Should our GOD

I remain,
Carlos Sierra

My surgeon released me at 5 weeks and said I could ride my bike, walk or anything. I had no pain. I didn’t start riding my bike until week 7. But the muscle pain on my shin is painful when I put weight on it. It has been like that since week 5-1/2. I had an X-ray and everything g looks great but when I stand it hurts like crazy. I was instructed that I only needed to ice if I’m swollen. My PT had me doing a full workout for 5 weeks 3x a week at the pt location that included leg lifts, bikes, stretching, and so on. I can bend my knee to 140 degrees. I am stretching my knee at home still. Walking my dog, but I wish surgeons would all tell us the same thing.