Calf pain after TKR

Have you had aKnee replacement??
I did all that prior to knee replacement….
Was hoping not to have a TKR but unfortunately I ran out of options….
Thanks for your response!!

I have not done the knee replacement. I was scheduled for it in 2018- but cancelled at the last minute. At that time I did have a knee debridement surgery and repair of miniscus and removed bakers’ cyst. Then followed up with cortisone and a hyaluronic acid injection which kept the pain away until last year. Last May I had 37 ml of fluid removed from this left knee and Orthopaedic specialist recommended I see the surgeon for TKR. But I won’t do it. I continue to limp some and know I need to do something but just lost for a solution.

I am now 11 months post TKR. I had generalized foot pain/achiness and inner calf pain begin soon after TKR. Ultrasound showed no blood clots. Ortho not concerned. Although my knee has clicking, clunking and crunching with every leg movement, I have minimal knee pain and excellent ROM. Foot achiness and inner calf tenderness remained. About 4 months post op severe heel pain started with walking. Calf muscle has atrophied. Have seen 2 podiatrists who diagnosed plantar fasciitis with minimal history and exam. Have had 2 cortisone injections in my foot, custom orthotics were made, and tried NSAIDS. Nothing has worked. No improvement for the past 6 months. I am now seeing PT. He took extensive history and exam and thinks I have tibial nerve compression/damage from the surgery and swelling not plantar fasciitis. Has anyone out there had the same issues after TKR and if so, any successful treatment?

Sounds awful! But there is someone out there who can help. You might try myofascial release therapy. Get someone trained in the John Barnes technique. Also try using RockTape. Your PT would know/advise on this. I am 21 months out and have random calf tightness so I stretch it every day and/or do myofascial release with small ball. Tkr Surgery caused numbness down inside of calf which is permanent ☹️. My biggest issue is lateral knee pain which I am trying to find the answer for. This blog has been very helpful as we are in the 20% of TKR patients that do not have great results. Keep pushing for answers to your issues!

Well, reading these comments is discouraging. I had knee replacement surgery three weeks ago and have numbness in my foot which my PT says is not normal. About a week after surgery I started experiencing severe calf pain that increases when I do PT I has an ultrasound yesterday to rule out blood clots. These comments are discouraging and I’m now I’m worried I could have nerve damage.

I still get pain in my right calf ten months after TKR. Neither the doctor who performed the surgery nor any of the other doctors or physical therapists I've seen since the pain started have been able to tell me what's causing it, but it is DEFINITELY a direct result of the surgery itself since I never experienced it until immediately after my surgery. I think it's caused by a damaged nerve and isn't a soft tissue (tendon, ligament, muscle, Myofascial tissue, etc.) issue like resulted on my other knee immediately after its TKR. The only thing I found to have given me some relief are nerve medications like pregabalin (Lyrica) and gabapentin. My response to the pain is as I would expect it to be if I had restless leg syndrome because I'm often changing my leg position in an attempt to avoid it. I wish you very well trying to uncover and treat the root cause of your calf pain. I empathize with your situation.

Nerves are so tricky and take a long time to heal- and where you experience pain may not be where it was injured. I hope it finally heals and you get relief. Our thought are with you.

This sounds more like a symptom of sciatica. Even though the pinched nerve(s) in sciatica are in the spine, the pain is reflected to various points, usually on the lower body. It's usually an intense shooting pain. Calf pain could be a sign you have sciatica.

Hello, I had 8 knee surgeries( 2Tkr,1 partial,infection,revision and everything under the book) I also had 3 back surgeries L4 L5 ansd sciatica, plus breast cancer. The pain you feel in your calf is damage muscle and nerve which will never ever goes away. My sugestion to you is to do an EMG test.

It's interesting you should mention EMG (electromyography). My surgeon's office just contacted me this morning and told me I was being referred to an orthopedic office that will perform an EMG on me. I hope, however, as you say, the calf and other local pain isn't permanent.