Neuropathy after TKR: I'm 68 and fearful of future

Posted by daveage68 @daveage68, Jun 13, 2021

I had knee replacement 8 weeks ago. This seem to accelerate neuropathy in both lower legs. Numbness, feels like feet are freezing, legs feel heavy and tired after little exercise. I have always been very active, this is killing me.
Any success stories out there? I read where this is incurable Not sure if this is a quality of life I can live with. Do not want to be burden for wife and family. Looking for good news.

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@artemis1886

I see a foot doctor that specializes n nerve damage in the feet. He said do not buy shoes you can bend in half example heel to toe. They do not support your foot enough and can cause foot defects. I have had to wear larger shoes because when my feet start swelling from the neuropathy and lymphedema my shoes get too tight and caused the hammer toe. I have gone through the neuroma then hammer toes but the muscle in my feet have atrophied to the point I can’t control them as I walk. What I thought was interesting is it was my left foot also.

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Thank you for the information. I appreciate your taking the time to reply.

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You are correct nerves do not regenerate. That’s what they taught in anatomy and physiology in college.. I went through RN school. The most frustrating think people say is I know how you feel. That frustrates me beyond belief. How do they know how this pain feels? I have done a lot of continuing education credits on this crazy disease. There is an Dr. Anna outlander research neurologist that I asked my doctor to refer me to. She is at the University of Boston. The only treatments I have heard of is IVIG and prednisone therapy. There is a lot of talk about nerve regeneration and medical marijuana. She did a study with both. One group IVIG therapy another using medical marijuana. There was nerve regeneration with medical marijuana. She does not say what kind of marijuana she used. I have a bunch of questions for her. She started researching neuropathy in 2017. I go to my neurologist website none of them specialize in neuropathy. The specialize in Parkinson’s seizures or other things.
There is days I get really frustrated and discouraged. Why could my doctor not be up front with me and tell me how this progresses? You get it in your heart then your heart goes from beating too fast or too slow. ( bad thing being a nurse I know when your heart goes too fast heart attack too slow you pass out. The let’s discuss kidneys and bladder some days you can control it other days you have to set a timer and make sure you go to the restroom every hour. I am the type person tell me what I am looking at up front not after it happens. You think something serious wrong it’s your neuropathy. I started looking into it myself for answers. The only thing is IVIG therapy. I was on it as a child until 18. It helps build up your immune system and helps with the neuropathy slowing down the progression of it.

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