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Damage from Iovera Nerve block prior to TKR

Posted by kathi65 @kathi65, Nov 8, 2022

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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debplos | @debplos | Apr 3 12:39pm
In reply to @lindielulu "I sure hope he can get help from Mayo Clinic. His situation sounds awful and I..." + (show)
@lindielulu

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

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Hope we can get some help.
Thanks for replying!

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debplos | @debplos | Apr 3 12:40pm
In reply to @babyjayne5977 "In both my right/left knee replacements, I had some type of a nerve block (don't remember..." + (show)
@babyjayne5977

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.

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Sorry you are having issues like me. Wish we could find help.

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debplos | @debplos | Apr 3 12:41pm

Wish we could find help!

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debplos | @debplos | Apr 3 12:42pm
In reply to @kobesnowy "I sent you a private message here can you check someone told me how to" + (show)
@kobesnowy

I sent you a private message here

can you check

someone told me how to

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Is it to help with knee pain?

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1 reply
debplos | @debplos | Apr 3 1:05pm
In reply to @debplos "My knee still has pain a year and a half after surgery. I. Physical therapy for..." + (show)
@debplos

My knee still has pain a year and a half after surgery. I. Physical therapy for the fourth time. Any news would be helpful as I had the Iovera procedure. Thank you!

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If I find out anything, I will let you know.

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debplos | @debplos | Apr 3 1:06pm

Sorry you are having issues too.

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kobesnowy | @kobesnowy | Apr 3 1:19pm
In reply to @debplos "Is it to help with knee pain?" + (show)
@debplos

Is it to help with knee pain?

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I cannot find where to look

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1 reply
debplos | @debplos | Apr 3 1:26pm

So sorry you are having issues too.

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lynnn | @lynnn | Apr 3 1:51pm
In reply to @rancher62 "Yes this was the first actual surgery my husband has ever had and we wish we..." + (show)
@rancher62

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.

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yes, it is so helpful to read these posts. good to know it is not just for Mayo patients. We are in Ottawa, Canada.
I had TNR in Dec. and still have night pain. Best wishes for your husband. Waiting is hard.

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debplos | @debplos | Apr 3 3:31pm
In reply to @kobesnowy "I cannot find where to look" + (show)
@kobesnowy

I cannot find where to look

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It is to help with the pain after surgery as it is done two weeks ahead of knee replacement surgery.

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