Hello,
I am replying to your question about nerve blocks. I, too, was on Coumadin for blood thinners and I followed all the directions for stopping this before TKR. I was advised to get nerve blocks before the procedure, consisting of very very cold water injected into the nerve areas of the knee to numb it prior to the procedure. I don’t remember the name of this nerve block, but I will check in again when I do.
Long story short, I ended up with a DVT and a hematoma and a leg all colors of the rainbow, and numbness throughout my lower leg from nerve damage. The doctors (separate ones) privately advised my wife that they were struggling to save my leg. I had to go to a different hospital to get treated at this point. I don’t know that I can attribute these problems to the injecting of this nerve block, but I was in a hospital and/or nursing home for 4 months and I still have a very nerve damaged leg from what I suspect was the nerve block. This is 4 years on from my TKR. (Got it! Iovera, which is a brand name) Because of my disaster I would advise you to forego any nerve blocking prior to TKR.

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