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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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heyjoe415 | @heyjoe415 | Oct 29, 2022

I'm so sorry for all you've been through. You're very brave. I don't think the tourniquet would cause pain in your feet, but I don't know that for sure. As you know from the bruising, that tourniquet is put on tight.

If I read this correctly, you weren't able to get out of bed for 7 days after TKR? That lack of movement would almost certainly cause DVT, and you're probably lucky to be alive.

Have you been able to start any rehab for the TKR? The sooner you can move it, pending an ok from your DVR doc and knee surgeon, the better.

I wish you all the best and admire your courage.

Joe

REPLY
carolynjoe9 | @carolynjoe9 | Oct 29, 2022
In reply to @vinran "I was told the same thing, however, after two years, nothing has gone away. If anything,..." + (show)
@vinran

I was told the same thing, however, after two years, nothing has
gone away. If anything, the foot neuropathy has worsened. I will
have another ultrasound because I’ve since noticed a swelling in my
groin area which is same leg that I had my TKR. TURNS OUT to be a
swollen lymph node and they can’t find a thing from the first ultrasound.
A second ultrasound is scheduled for next month to determine if any thing
has changed. I can tell already by the swelling that it’s unchanged after 5
months. At that time, I will also ask the surgeon for the ABI test that was
mentioned by Lori.
Honestly folks, I think knee surgeons “hide the truth” about repercussions
such as neuropathy etc…. after TKR. I no longer trust any of them! I’m seeing
an unrelated surgeon as I move forward in my journey to hopefully determine
WHAT IS CAUSING MY PROBLEMS.
Keep posting please, it helps everyone.
Thanks.
Vince

Jump to this post

Hi Vince
I am so sorry you have experienced this after your surgery.
I am almost 7 weeks out from a Mako robotic TKR on my right knee. Before my surgery my surgeon went over in great detail ALL the horrendous possibilities the were possible results of this surgery. He explained about infections and neuropathy and damage to blood vessels so explicitly that when he asked if I still wanted to do this, I hesitated and weighed how I was feeling and how I wanted to feel. The first 3 1/2 weeks I wasn't sure I made the right decision. The pain was horrendous. I had PT at home minimally due to pain level. Nerve pain that often felt like burning knives slicing the skin all over my leg so bad I couldn't have a light sheet on the leg.
When I started going out for PT I saw they had a CBD cream and they gave me a sample. I truly believe that massaging that cream in helped wake up some of those nerves, reduce the swelling around others and break down some of the scar tissue.
At 7 weeks I am feeling glad I did the knee because it is already way better than prior to surgery. Now I must decide whether to do the left knee which is not as bad as the right was but is bone on bone.
Stories like yours will make me think very hard about it. Was I just lucky?
I hope an answer comes for you, that you get relief from pain and numbness.

REPLY
2 replies
vinran | @vinran | Oct 29, 2022
In reply to @carolynjoe9 "Hi Vince I am so sorry you have experienced this after your surgery. I am almost..." + (show)
@carolynjoe9

Hi Vince
I am so sorry you have experienced this after your surgery.
I am almost 7 weeks out from a Mako robotic TKR on my right knee. Before my surgery my surgeon went over in great detail ALL the horrendous possibilities the were possible results of this surgery. He explained about infections and neuropathy and damage to blood vessels so explicitly that when he asked if I still wanted to do this, I hesitated and weighed how I was feeling and how I wanted to feel. The first 3 1/2 weeks I wasn't sure I made the right decision. The pain was horrendous. I had PT at home minimally due to pain level. Nerve pain that often felt like burning knives slicing the skin all over my leg so bad I couldn't have a light sheet on the leg.
When I started going out for PT I saw they had a CBD cream and they gave me a sample. I truly believe that massaging that cream in helped wake up some of those nerves, reduce the swelling around others and break down some of the scar tissue.
At 7 weeks I am feeling glad I did the knee because it is already way better than prior to surgery. Now I must decide whether to do the left knee which is not as bad as the right was but is bone on bone.
Stories like yours will make me think very hard about it. Was I just lucky?
I hope an answer comes for you, that you get relief from pain and numbness.

Jump to this post

That’s exact same surgery I had but never told a thing
about neuropathy etc…..
Thanks

REPLY
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Oct 29, 2022
In reply to @carolynjoe9 "Hi Vince I am so sorry you have experienced this after your surgery. I am almost..." + (show)
@carolynjoe9

Hi Vince
I am so sorry you have experienced this after your surgery.
I am almost 7 weeks out from a Mako robotic TKR on my right knee. Before my surgery my surgeon went over in great detail ALL the horrendous possibilities the were possible results of this surgery. He explained about infections and neuropathy and damage to blood vessels so explicitly that when he asked if I still wanted to do this, I hesitated and weighed how I was feeling and how I wanted to feel. The first 3 1/2 weeks I wasn't sure I made the right decision. The pain was horrendous. I had PT at home minimally due to pain level. Nerve pain that often felt like burning knives slicing the skin all over my leg so bad I couldn't have a light sheet on the leg.
When I started going out for PT I saw they had a CBD cream and they gave me a sample. I truly believe that massaging that cream in helped wake up some of those nerves, reduce the swelling around others and break down some of the scar tissue.
At 7 weeks I am feeling glad I did the knee because it is already way better than prior to surgery. Now I must decide whether to do the left knee which is not as bad as the right was but is bone on bone.
Stories like yours will make me think very hard about it. Was I just lucky?
I hope an answer comes for you, that you get relief from pain and numbness.

Jump to this post

Welcome @carolynjoe9, Thanks for sharing your experience with the knee replacement. My surgeon and the anesthesia team also went over all of the possible complication of the TKR surgery. I was a little worried about the nerve damage possibility since I already have neuropathy but it didn't make anything worse and the recovery went well.

I have a similar situation since my right knee that was replaced was bone on bone and my left knee is not far behind. So far it has given me no pain or trouble. Do you have pain with the bone on bone in your left knee?

REPLY
1 reply
carolynjoe9 | @carolynjoe9 | Oct 29, 2022
In reply to @johnbishop "Welcome @carolynjoe9, Thanks for sharing your experience with the knee replacement. My surgeon and the anesthesia..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Welcome @carolynjoe9, Thanks for sharing your experience with the knee replacement. My surgeon and the anesthesia team also went over all of the possible complication of the TKR surgery. I was a little worried about the nerve damage possibility since I already have neuropathy but it didn't make anything worse and the recovery went well.

I have a similar situation since my right knee that was replaced was bone on bone and my left knee is not far behind. So far it has given me no pain or trouble. Do you have pain with the bone on bone in your left knee?

Jump to this post

Hi John
My left knee is bone on bone when it's bent so pain is much easier to avoid whereas the right knee was bone on bone in basically every position so it always hurt bad.
The left knee rubs like heavy furniture being dragged over a wood floor when bending and can't be trusted to not give out. I have lost 40 pounds which has helped and the plan is to continue to lose another 40 so maybe I can avoid another surgery. I also plan to start at the gym as soon as I am cleared.

REPLY
2 replies
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Oct 29, 2022
In reply to @carolynjoe9 "Hi John My left knee is bone on bone when it's bent so pain is much..." + (show)
@carolynjoe9

Hi John
My left knee is bone on bone when it's bent so pain is much easier to avoid whereas the right knee was bone on bone in basically every position so it always hurt bad.
The left knee rubs like heavy furniture being dragged over a wood floor when bending and can't be trusted to not give out. I have lost 40 pounds which has helped and the plan is to continue to lose another 40 so maybe I can avoid another surgery. I also plan to start at the gym as soon as I am cleared.

Jump to this post

Sounds like a great plan! Weight loss is one of the things I've worked hard on also to help with the knees and other health issues. Keep up the good work!

REPLY
heyjoe415 | @heyjoe415 | Oct 30, 2022
In reply to @carolynjoe9 "Hi John My left knee is bone on bone when it's bent so pain is much..." + (show)
@carolynjoe9

Hi John
My left knee is bone on bone when it's bent so pain is much easier to avoid whereas the right knee was bone on bone in basically every position so it always hurt bad.
The left knee rubs like heavy furniture being dragged over a wood floor when bending and can't be trusted to not give out. I have lost 40 pounds which has helped and the plan is to continue to lose another 40 so maybe I can avoid another surgery. I also plan to start at the gym as soon as I am cleared.

Jump to this post

Good luck Carolyn,

Both losing another 40 lbs, and strengthening the quads and hamstring muscles will prepare you well for a TKR.

All the best to you!

Joe

REPLY
sharronp79 | @sharronp79 | Oct 30, 2022
In reply to @cat082011 "Hi, I am glad you mentioned all the symptoms you had after your THR. I am..." + (show)
@cat082011

Hi,

I am glad you mentioned all the symptoms you had after your THR. I am seven weeks out from THR, and I am getting burning, tingling, stabbing and even electrical type shocks down my thigh from the surgical site. I think I was just not prepared for this by the doctor. It would have been good for surgeons to have a discussion of the types of "normal pain" to expect versus pain indicating that you should contact the doctor. When these symptoms flare up, it is hard to not think there is something very wrong with the hip replacement surgery itself. Thank you for the reminder that joint replacement is major surgery and the damage and irritation to the nerves and muscle will take time.

Jump to this post

Amen! I don't think doctors are giving prospective clients a good understanding of the aftermath of either knee or hip replacement. I thought when I had my first knee replacement that afterward everything would be just like a new knee. I wasn't prepared for not being able to sit on my knees or for the pain in the knees after surgery. I get shots every 3 months to help with the knee pain and now I am seeing a dr. abt an ablation procedure. A knee replacement doesn't give you a version of what a normal knee would be. It allows u to walk again without pain but there are other after effects not mentioned by my doctor before the surgery. I am not unhappy with having the surgery but would have liked to know what u lose by having a replacement.

REPLY
sharronp79 | @sharronp79 | Oct 30, 2022

I had foot neuropathy after my hip replacement. It was severe for months but has lessened each month after surgery. It took a while but did go away. I had my hip replaced a year ago.

REPLY
1 reply
cat082011 | @cat082011 | Nov 3, 2022
In reply to @sharronp79 "I had foot neuropathy after my hip replacement. It was severe for months but has lessened..." + (show)
@sharronp79

I had foot neuropathy after my hip replacement. It was severe for months but has lessened each month after surgery. It took a while but did go away. I had my hip replaced a year ago.

Jump to this post

Hi,

Two weeks ago, I started having burning pain in my thigh. I also have tingling and pain on the side off my calf and into my foot. I went to my doctor yesterday for my three month checkup after hip replacement surgery and I was told it was neuropathy, the nerves coming back to life. Woo hoo, i get to be one of the small percentage of patients who get this. The doctor said that it could take 6-9 month to go away. I was wondering what you did for your foot neuropathy for all those months. Did you do physical therapy or take any medication?

REPLY
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