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Damage from Iovera Nerve block prior to TKR
I had right TKR 18 weeks ago. Prior to surgery I had lower leg neuropathy and a neurologist could not determine why after testing (you're part of the 20% of the population that gets it for an unknown reason she said). My surgeon recommended the Iovera nerve block prior to surgery because it would help with pain after the surgery. He said that the nerve block would last for about 3 months. I had no problem when the injection was done, minimal bruising and my leg was numb. It's now been more than 3 months later and I still have numbness going all the way down the inside of my thigh to my knee and when I touched the skin it feels like someone's taking a razor blade and slicing my skin open. I'm also having problems when I bend my leg in certain ways or touch my leg in certain spots I start get sharp nerve pains down on my lower leg. I don't know if this is from the Iovera injection or not. And I have a feeling nobody's really going to tell me. Has this happened to anybody else? I already had a chronic pain condition before surgery and if I had known that I would feel the way I do now I don't think I would have had my knee replaced!
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Yes!! I have boat boat in my right knee. It was recommended. I have IOVERA procedure because I cannot have surgery currently. The IOVER a procedure itself was not painful however, since I had it I have had paid from my day to my mid thigh. It feels like lightning is striking the area. It is dub, similar to lidocaine. However, it does not wear off. It is a constant it has not improved by D paid for boat on boat. It has just increased nerve paid that I did not have before. The doctors are not giving me any clear cut answers. They act as if it didn’t even happen. You are not alone.
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2 ReactionsI'm still having the effects of it and it's been 6 months. It improved some but after about 4 months it seems like it's permanent. My doctor had a "family emergency" the day after I had it and I have not heard from him since. The nurse said to give it 3 months (give or take a day or 2, she said) when I called with unbearable pain shortly after the procedure. I have not called back and it's been 6 months. I don't trust anything they would tell me. Regrets??? Oh, yeah!
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1 ReactionIt’s been 8 months for me-my right leg is still numb on the outer side from mid calf to mid thigh. I have lots of terrible zinger nerve pain frequently everyday-I do believe this is permanent and I regret having IOVERA everyday.
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2 ReactionsExactly! Your thoughts are my thoughts
Wow--so glad we found these comments as my husband is now 16 months out from TKR and is still in LOTS of pain from the Iovera shot. I do not know about the rest of you but right after he had the Iovera procedure done, he had horrible pain and has ever since. The shot never did what it was designed to do "be numb from pain before the surgery" and so has had 24/7 pain, lots of burning pain that feels like a vice squeezing sensation and he cannot have anything touch his knee. We are ranchers and so of course he has to wear jeans outside and just "deals" with the pain but once he comes in the house, he takes his pants off and puts shorts on so nothing is touching his knee. He cannot even sleep with a sheet on it. His surgeon and the PA (who gave the Iovera shot, (that was not given under ultrasound guidance like it is suppose to) act like there is nothing wrong and he does not know what he is feeling but he does !!! We have done tons of PT and it was out PT gal that told us to get a second opinion as something is not right so we then went to a different city for a second opinion from an orthopedic specialist and they have referred us to Mayo.
I am so glad we found that other people are experiencing the same symptoms after having the IOvera shot done and I am so glad this is on the Mayo Clinic site as we have been accepted and awaiting for an appointment this summer/fall to be seen with an Ortho specialist at Mayo. Can any of you tell us how Mayo has helped you all get over the pain or what procedures they did to get back to normal? Also, may I ask anyone that has gotten help at Mayo the Orthopedic specialist they went to for help as we would love to see the same specialist.
Thank you all for listening and I hope we can all help each other. I look forward to hearing from anyone !!
I am glad to hear Mayo will see him for this-I am going on 9 months after surgery and continue to have a numb leg from mid calf to mid thigh plus awful “zingers” nerve pain every day frequently. I wish so hard I never had the IOVERA done. I truly think this is all permanent-I would love to hear what Mayo has to say-if there is any kind of treatment for this etc. I feel for your hubby-we got these knee replacements to be better…
Yes this was the first actual surgery my husband has ever had and we wish we would not have had it done either, but we did not know and surgeon said it would help and be the best thing to do so we listened to our surgeon....We so hope that Mayo can help and there is a waiting list to get in but we are accepted so we just wait. Excited to go here as best place to get care and healing from the pain. So glad all of these posts are on the Mayo website and we are not alone and we truly believe help is on the horizon when we see Mayo. For now, he will have to take his gabapentin and duloxetine and we will patiently wait. Have a good day. I hope you can find some help also.
I sure hope he can get help from Mayo Clinic. His situation sounds awful and I really sympathize with him. I think when we let others know what can happen with these unproven procedures, it can save the pain for others. Thank you for posting and I wish only the best for your husband. Please let us know what they say or do to help him
In both my right/left knee replacements, I had some type of a nerve block (don't remember the name). The right knee was a breeze and lasted 3 - 4 days which really helped with the initial pain after surgery. However, the left knee was totally different (actually the entire experience was & not a good one) and I came out of surgery feeling the pain immediately and it was awful! There was no scan of sorts to locate the nerve as my husband had prior to his shoulder repair. I think this really should be mandatory for accuracy. With both knees, I will occasionally get what I call "nerve zaps" which I have been told is normal. They are not really painful, but I definitely feel it. Wishing you the best with Mayo Clinic.