Calf pain after TKR

I am 8 months post op tkr, my calf isn't so much painful now but I still have a lot of pain and numbness in my knee. It does take a long time for all of this to heal, my foot was numb and always really cold. 5 weeks isn't long really, it could take 12 months, so I am told for things to heal. You will get there.

I had a numb foot after my tkr, the nerves and tendons will be cut during this operation, they will take longer to heal than the knee itself.
I was told by my GP that all of the pain I was feeling was normal, I also thought I had a blood clot but I didn't. You will get there, it takes a long time though. Also, I was told that if my scar hadn't healed on the outside, my knee inside hasn't yet healed properly. Hope you go on ok and hang in there.

I had total bottom of foot numb. Now I have lateral half of foot numb. It's been 8 months since tkr. How long did it take for your numb foot to recover?

I am 9 weeks PO, I have good ROM and straightness after my TKR. I am having difficulty walking normally due to pain in the back of the calf. This same pain inhibits me from placing my non surgical leg down the next step when walking down stairs. I stretch my calf often thru the day. Any suggestions?

I had same problem. Surgeon and pt guy could not identify a cause. My surgeon recommended intake Meloxicam for 30 days to see if that would break the cycle. It did!

I had a right TKR and am about 10.5 weeks out from surgery. That was my 4th surgery (osteotomy 2017, partial knee replacement 2017, medial imbrication and lateral release 2022, and then the TKR June 2023) on my right knee. Since the surgery I’ve had incredible pain in my calf and heel. Now the pain in my heel has changed to numbness. I also have a searing pain in my hip. I had an injection into my L4 and they just did an MRI as well. The MRI showed mild arthritis in the L4 and L5 area, but no nerve impingement. I’ve been getting dry needling in my calf and hip with no real long term symptom relief. The surgeon isn’t really addressing any of this pain and my PT said this type of pain isn’t really indicative of a TKR. The pain really makes doing some of my exercises truly difficult and sleeping is also a nightly battle. The other odd things is pain and weakness (can’t lift my bent leg especially turning over in bed, PT exercises, or when getting in/out of the car and driving) as it feels like someone is stabbing me right behind the knee where the knee and calf meet. Based on the comments here I am clearly not alone. I have been through a lot and I’m not a complainer, but it sometimes feels like the surgeon isn’t taking me seriously. Has anyone found relief or answers? Overall my knee is starting to feel a bit better, but the calf pain is really hampering my recovery efforts.

I am almost 12 months out from a TKR. I had calf pain for almost 3 months and one day it just went away. however I now wear a knee sleeve every day for stiffness and soreness. I know it's from inflammation. Ask but a knee sleeve will compress, increase blood flow and helps with inflammation. The first day I wore it I was up every 2 hours going to the bathroom and it wasn't just some...it was like I drank a gallon of water. I feel it was the fluid going down in the leg. The sleeve just cannot be so tight it inhibits your range of motion or anything. You can also try nsaids as well. I did take muscle relaxes at bedtime for mine so I could sleep. It should hopefully settle down for you.

Do you still have a numb foot?

Has yours recovered yet? I am 9 months post op TKR. I had total bottom of foot numb also. After about 1 month the medial half of foot recovered and now lateral half is numb when at rest and elevated. As soon as I walk or have pressure on it - terrible pain and pins and needles. I suspect that there is a nerve compressed in my ankle causing this.

Good afternoon @kellybaumgart and a big welcome to Connect. We believe strongly in sharing. It seems that there is always more to learn from our fellow patients who have actually used certain treatments and taken related medications. Four surgeries on one knee. Is that the new limit? I will have to admit right up front that even after 2 years for my right knee and 10 years since the TKR on my left knee.....I still get pains, numbness, and other irritations from both of them. Not the same type or the same time.

Just to check it out...I ran through some movements with my left knee. For the last few weeks, it has been a bit on the raunchy side with pain and discomfort which of course made me at least somewhat irritated. Today that discomfort is gone completely. Sometimes I do think that is a sleeping position issue. So...today I found the Foam Leg Pillow by Sharper Image. You place it between your legs which keeps the distance and pressure even when you are sleeping.

If you are interested, it is on page 38 of the Fall Preview 2023 catalog. Now the right knee TKR is from 2021 and it is behaving. However, the hip above it is announcing some needed attention for the one bursa I have up there. I think we have seven but all it takes is one to get your attention. That one also lets me know when it is tired of driving. Thank goodness for cruise control so it can get a break.

Please stay in touch with Connect members. There are wonderful folks here to help you.

May you be safe, free, and protected from inner and outer harm.
Chris