Calf Numbness after Total Knee Replacement

Hi @katclub that must be so frustrating to feel numbness on your calf.

I wanted to tag fellow Connect members @ellerbracke @debbraw and @johnbishop as they have all had knee replacements and can share if this is something they have experienced, or if they experienced something similar.

Back to you @katclub does the numbness come and go, or is it constant?

Hi @katclub, I am 23 days post op for a total knee replacement and I had numbness of the feet and ankles before I started due to my neuropathy. My right leg is still a little stiff and swollen and I do think it's mostly normal. Maybe others can also share their experience. I also have lymphedema for which I am supposed to wear compression socks but have not really been able to start wearing them like before. They did control the swelling.

Numbness is always there. The front of knee but on the outside too. The home pt girl don’t worry but I am!

Knee is stiff stiff stiff, again normal at 3 weeks!

Hi @katclub - Yes! I think numbness is normal for quite a while. Certainly at 3 weeks it shouldn't be anything to worry about. My doctor told me that the three things he had the most complaints about were numbness, discomfort on kneeling and a clicking sound. Do you have any of the other two? Best of luck as you continue your recovery.

Numbness is normal doctor said on or around knee, front of leg below knee is numb, he said he believes due to my intense sciatica.
I have the not unexpected pain, burning at knee area. No pain on leg.

My husband had total knee replacement almost four years ago and still has numbness on the outside of the knee. At this point we don't expect it to improve.

Five days after total knee replacement surgery, I have BOTH numbness of the shin (NOT the calf) AND a "clicking" in my knee that occurs with each step. Of the two disconcerting results of surgery, I find the "clicking" to be worse.

Welcome @oceanspruce, 5 days post TKR is really early in the recovery process. Sorry to hear you have some numbness and clicking when taking a step. Have you talked with your surgeon or care team about the clicking?

I am a year out from surgery and still have clicking in my knee, although not every step. I think it is permanent at this point. Also have numbness down inside of calf. It has gotten better but still there. Hopefully it will dissipate over time. And have numbness near the the incision which is normal because they have to cut a lot of nerves for this surgery. That is permanent but doesn’t bother me. Bigger issue is ongoing pain on outside of kneecap when put weight on it or bending it. To have bone scan to check for infection, allergies to cement and/plastic. You are very early in recovery so you have lots of time to improve.