1. < Neuropathy

Knee replacement with neuropathy in legs

Posted by tcokeefe @tcokeefe, Aug 12, 2019

I have bone on bone arthritis in one knee and have been told I will probably need a knee replacement in the near future. I also have advanced peripheral neuropathy in both legs. Several years ago I had bunion surgery, and the nerves in one foot in the big toe were completely dead after the surgery and the toe is deader than a door Nail and the toe has no muscle control and crosses over worse than before surgery. Anyway, my fear is having any further nerve damage as a result of knee surgery, and have read articles where some people who had neuropathy have ended up with foot drop as a result of nerve damage from knee replacement surgery. This really scares me because I’m afraid I would end up without the use of my leg or end up with extreme difficulty walking as a result of trying to improve my knee pain. Has anyone out there had a knee replacement who also had advanced neuropathy in their leg?

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Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | May 17, 2023
In reply to @maggiegirl1123 "Hello @johnbishop, I plan on this being a good day. I will see my surgeon in..." + (show)
@maggiegirl1123

Hello @johnbishop,
I plan on this being a good day. I will see my surgeon in a few hours for my postoperative appointment after TKR performed May 2. We are all a combination of health concerns. I wondered what the heck I should do because both my knees were bone on bone, I have beginning neuropathy and spinal stenosis. My surgeon urged me to get TKR. He said my back may improve with more exercise. So far TKR is going well, no complications. I don't regret it. I knew I needed relief somewhere. I just am interested in how others cope with multiple things going on with their aging bodies. I am 76 yr old female who wants to be active and this seemed my best option to get there. I like Mayo Connect. I have already had compassionate replies tgat helped me get through these first 2 weeks...definitely not easy for me. Sheryl

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Hi Sheryl @maggiegirl1123, That's great news that your TKR is going so well. What really helped me get through the recovery was icing and elevating the knee/leg along with diligently doing the daily exercises the surgeon's care team gave me to do at home. My knee was bone on bone also and I was about the same age when I had my TKR. I'm 80 now and me left knee seems to be holding up OK so hopefully I won't need a TKR for the left one.

Positive attitude and staying active definitely helps! ... and for me, I wished I would have listened better when the surgeon was telling me how and when to ice and elevate my leg, his idea and my idea of how much were two different levels 🙃

REPLY
1 reply
maggiegirl1123 | @maggiegirl1123 | May 17, 2023
In reply to @johnbishop "Hi Sheryl @maggiegirl1123, That's great news that your TKR is going so well. What really helped..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Hi Sheryl @maggiegirl1123, That's great news that your TKR is going so well. What really helped me get through the recovery was icing and elevating the knee/leg along with diligently doing the daily exercises the surgeon's care team gave me to do at home. My knee was bone on bone also and I was about the same age when I had my TKR. I'm 80 now and me left knee seems to be holding up OK so hopefully I won't need a TKR for the left one.

Positive attitude and staying active definitely helps! ... and for me, I wished I would have listened better when the surgeon was telling me how and when to ice and elevate my leg, his idea and my idea of how much were two different levels 🙃

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Hello@johnbishop, Thank you for your response. I agree that icing and elevating are #1 along with exercing 3x a day. I am fortunate because I am not home alone, but at my Daughter's home and had a friend take my 2 dogs for 3-4 weeks. My Daughter helped me along with care and cooking meals. I know I am blessed. This contributed to my recovery. I lost my Husband in December. I couldn't imagine going through this alone. My motto, put one foot in front of the other, literally. Thanks, John for mentoring. You are appreciated.

REPLY
jbmem | @jbmem | May 20, 2023
In reply to @maggiegirl1123 "Hello @johnbishop, I plan on this being a good day. I will see my surgeon in..." + (show)
@maggiegirl1123

Hello @johnbishop,
I plan on this being a good day. I will see my surgeon in a few hours for my postoperative appointment after TKR performed May 2. We are all a combination of health concerns. I wondered what the heck I should do because both my knees were bone on bone, I have beginning neuropathy and spinal stenosis. My surgeon urged me to get TKR. He said my back may improve with more exercise. So far TKR is going well, no complications. I don't regret it. I knew I needed relief somewhere. I just am interested in how others cope with multiple things going on with their aging bodies. I am 76 yr old female who wants to be active and this seemed my best option to get there. I like Mayo Connect. I have already had compassionate replies tgat helped me get through these first 2 weeks...definitely not easy for me. Sheryl

Jump to this post

I am 73 with similar ailments and goals. A prescription compound medicine lotion rubbed on bum knee a few times a day gives some relief. so does a sock and or compression stocking on neuropathetic/arthritic bum foot and knee. staying active now means walking and swimming a bit, hitting on a tennis ball machine, and playing cards. big adjustment as you know. scheduled for knee replacement in july.

REPLY
finny4606 | @finny4606 | May 21, 2023

I had a knee replacement in June of 2019, and I was always in pain. So I had a revision 16 months later and the pain never healed. And now I have CRPS, which I believe is nerve damage and incurable. So I am seeking help from pain management. Good luck to you and God Bless.

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adejuliannie | @adejuliannie | May 21, 2023

I have Neuropathy in legs an Feet. Had Knee. Replacement an Leg Straighten in January absolutely no problems. I had 26 days in a Rehabilitation Center to get great Therapy an then worked with a Therapist an also She gave me program to use at the Gym. Have had no bad side effects and New Knee is great an painless.

REPLY
galactic33 | @galactic33 | Apr 13 10:11am
In reply to @jbmem "I am 73 and scheduled for knee replacement in July. I have had idiopathic peripheral neuropathy..." + (show)
@jbmem

I am 73 and scheduled for knee replacement in July. I have had idiopathic peripheral neuropathy in that leg for six years. I wonder if that can be "fixed" during the surgery. And I also wonder if the surgery could make it worse in long term. Thanks for replies.

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I, too have idiopathic Peripheral Neuropathy and bone on bone osteoarthritis. Currently 73 years old. I fear this surgery will complicate my neuropathy. Did you have your surgery as planned and how have you done since? (with or without surgery). Thank you for posting. I wish you great healing no matter which path you chose.

REPLY
dacyd1 | @dacyd1 | Jul 21 2:15pm
In reply to @ericvnelson "I had both knees replaced 10 years ago. Best thing I ever did at the time...." + (show)
@ericvnelson

I had both knees replaced 10 years ago. Best thing I ever did at the time. I was very active and my knees wore out with skiing, biking and running. The surgery got me back to everything except running. I am now 69 years old. I had a little numbness in both my feet prior to the surgery and it got a little worse every year after. A year ago both feet dropped and I am 80 % numb below my knees in both legs. I have little balance and need braces and a cain to walk. Falling is a problem. The good news is I have no pain. Is my condition due to the surgery 10 years ago? I think the knee replacements had some effect on my condition but the doctors aren't 100% sure. I have tried a number of remedies to try to get feeling back with no success. Anyone out there have any ideas?

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I had both knee replacements and am having pain and tingling in both of them. When I went back to the surgeon, he could not see anything in the x-ray. I would like to go for an MRI to see if there is nerve damage. but am a little scared if there it is, it means more surgery. I'm a 80 year female now, no heart condition, but have other health conditions. Health professionals always say with age that surgery is risky. Someone I know has the same problem, they are getting steroid shots, but if you get shots you can't get surgery for three months after shot. So if things worsen you are stuck with the pain. So I am thinking of going for a second opinion to see what another doctor finds. I also have compressed disks in my back that the doctor told me nothing can be done to relieve. So if I get a second opinion about my knees, I will do the same for my back.

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