Foot neuropathy (numbness and pain) after total knee replacement (TKR)

I didn’t take gabapentin. I took Lyrica (Pre-gabeline) which is essentially the same in that it addresses nerve pain activity
When I was in a lot of pain in the beginning I took 150 mg Lyrica twice a day.
Now I take 50 mg now and then when my knee is active (itching and burning). Which typically happens at night.
I will be 6 months post op next week

Thank you....I will ask my PCP about this as my surgeon only wants to see me if there is a problem with the knee itself which is frustrating and says my foot issues have nothing to do with my knee. Interesting though it started at about 4.5 months out the more active I am. I am at a little over 5 months. I did do Cymbalta for my neck prior to surgery but have to be careful as I have some IB-C and take meds for that so I don't get constipated and some meds do that to me. I wonder if Lyrica will help more with the feet issues I am having. I often wonder too if I am too active...walking 5-7,000 steps a day, doing pretty much normal activities and sure feel it at night. Often the top of my knee hurts and not sure if it's from the muscles/tendons healing or what. Thank you for your insight.

That sounds terrible! They keep saying it is from my back and I do have back and buttock pain too. I can’t just give up. This is my life and I want it back. I hope you are much better since your surgery! Rennie

I really do feel most of us try to be too active. I know weight bearing activities like walking can still cause me a lot of pain but I did get a compression stocking and it has been wonderful for keeping the inflammation down so I can walk farther now. HOWEVER I do think we need to be careful on what and how much exercise we do. My surgeon told me last month that it takes about a year to recover ( didn’t tell me that before the TKR)
I also go to aquafit which has been wonderful for strengthening my legs and improving circulation
I would probably agree that your foot pain is related to your TKR. There is so much nerve and tissue repair going on that referred pain to the foot only makes sense

You have been very helpful and I appreciate that. I am going back to Aquafit starting in April (I put my membership on hold) as I haven't felt steady on my feet to go back and I am very conscious of my walking so I don't fall or slip if wet outside. We are heading to Universal again in December and I will be 13 months out by then so hoping I can do all the walking etc....it is about 18,000 steps a day and we was almost 5 miles a day. My ROM is 115 and 123 with a strap when I have had it checked so that is not the issue...just all the referred soreness and pain in other areas. I have a compression knee sleeve that I wear that helps but haven't found any compression/neuropathy sock that fits me well as I have big ankles and calves (even in high school) with a 190 weight. Thank you fo much for all your suggestions. We do tend to overdo and I'm doing all I did prior to surgery except mowing the grass which I want to do in a few months lol

My PT prescribed my compression stocking. Ii was fitted for it and it comes over the knee and up to mid thigh
If possible try to do aquafit classes in the deep end that way there is no impact on your knee as you go through the movements. Your legs also get great resistance as you move them freely through the deep water.
I also purchased a walking bike about a year and a half before surgery to help improve my leg strength. It has been wonderful and I still use it now. They are expensive but in my opinion worth every penny. I even use it in the winter.
The last thing I want to mention is weight. Every extra pound of body weight puts and extra 4-5 lbs on the knee joints. I lost 20 lbs in the past 2 years not just through exercise but changing my eating times. I only eat between 10 am and 8 pm. In between I eat what I want. It really was an effortless way to lose weight. A form of intermittent fasting.
Hope this helps 🤗
PS The walking bike is called the Alinker

I’m five weeks since left TKR and, like you, having itching and burning on my lateral side. Just took a Benadryl, hoping that helps. Wish you the best!

I suffer with Neuropathy too and ever since I’ve had my right knee total replacement I’ve had problems with my ankle hurting again like the left one but I’m also dealing with a heaviness in the middle of my right foot when doing the foot lift exercises. It hurts like it’s something heavy in the middle of my foot that suddenly moves there. But I also dealt with a broken bone in that knee too during surgery my surgeon said because of the arthritis and yet some steroids that I stopped taking since 2018. I had this surgery 2/23/2023

Good evening @ldtfranklin and welcome to Connect. This is a place, actually, a forum that is has a goal of increasing knowledge by sharing the actual experiences of other patients, caregivers, and providers.

You are just recovering from a very recent surgery. It is way too early to lock yourself into a diagnosis of neuropathy in your right foot. It has only been 4 weeks. A TKR is major orthopedic surgery. Muscles, ligaments, and the surrounding fascia that connects everything need time to heel and build strength that will support your body. I have had two TKRs. The last one was 1 and 1/2 years ago. I remember dealing with the heavy feelings in the arch of the foot. Even tonight while writing this I am testing my feet. They are not perfect but much better.

Give it some time. And here's a hint. Every morning I do a Yoga pose called "Legs up the Wall". Just "Google" it. Do you do the sliding exercise? That also helps. I also try to push any swelling or other form of liquid from the ankle and knee down my leg while it is in the air. Then you can eliminate the fluid when you urinate. Did you start PT right after your TKR? Was it a robotic surgery?

The other big help for me is MFR, myofascial release therapy. You can start that immediately to help you with this situation. Do you know about MFR?

I am pretty amazed that you had a bone broken during surgery. I have never heard of such an experience. That must also be trying to heal along with the other TKR elements.

Please let me know your response at this point.
May you be free of suffering and the causes of suffering.
Chris

Thank you so much for a lot of information I really needed to hear from someone that can relate to me. This is my second total knee replacement. The left knee surgery went well but getting therapy was the problem because the Home Healthcare agency the hospital chose failed me. The RN came one time so therefore I ended up with my knee burning up that my little grandson said grandma you need to go to the hospital he felt the heat from my leg and he was a good piece away from me. I ended up in ER 3 times so it threw my therapy appointments off to the point where I didn’t get home therapy at all and was actually way behind. I went to my Orthopedic and had been in contact with them about what was going on, but I’m in the waiting room and my leg starts bleeding again while I’m waiting. They changed the bandage before I was called back to see him I told them I need some help here. And they were shocked cause my bandage was soaked and they said come on back, my doctor was pissed afraid it was infected, gave a letter to give the RN which never returned my calls or text. So I called the facility he work for and little good that did he had them believing he had been coming out but lied and didn’t know I had the texts he sent. So I called my insurance company and reported him to the state and told them I don’t want them to get paid for some service they’re not doing. They filed a grievance on my behalf and thought I was lying but I said I don’t have to lie I have the texts as proof. You could hear the silence on the line and his boss says can you send me the texts I said certainly. But I made it but this broken bone issue I wasn’t expecting at all because I had arthritis in both knees and steroids in both knees and last time I had gotten those shots was in mid 2018. On the subject of Neuropathy I was already diagnosed with it few years ago. I do leg rubs but I’m gonna do more often and push it down from the knee and all the good advice