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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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Where did they give you the injection? Mine was just below my inner knee. Sounds like they injected the wrong nerve. I had iovera pre TKR and it lasted three full months.
However, I had a menisectomy years ago and started experiencing that kind of pain on my outer thigh for years after because they nicked a nerve during that surgery. I’m so sorry you are having this. Whaat helped was a nerve ablation.
I had Iovera treatment 2 weeks before surgery. The treatment itself was very painful and pain increased for the entire two hour drive home. One injection below knee, 3 along side Patella and two above. Post surgery it was determined that i had nerve pain and pain levels were 7-8. I am 11 weeks out from surgery and still suffering from nerve pain. I believe that i would not be in this situation if i had not had the Iovera treatment. Iovera advertises this as not painful treatment.
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2 ReactionsI had the nerve block and only had pain in my quad for a few days I took meds only during that time and took tylenol the remaining time. I was pain free from the moment i finished surgery. I had stiffness and swelling with a little discomfort
Pt was never painful. However i am 8 mos out and still have numbness from below the knee cap down the shin to my ankle. My husband had TKR without the block and he did have pain.
Had Iovera 11 months ago 2 weeks before knee replacement. Now in continual pain from knee upward around the 5 injection sites and above. 2 CT scans, 3 MRIs, 1 EMG, 2 trips to the ER as well as trips to pain docs and no one can give me a diagnosis. My Orthopedic Surgeon recommended I contact the Mayo clinic. Hindsight is 20/20 but I wish I’d never had the Iovera procedure. I hope you see improvement.
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1 Reaction@coffeecupp I have pretty much the same story. 11 months of pain since Iovera several trips to ER, Pain Docs, EMG, MRI’s and no one will tell me what I know and that is Iovera procedure went bad. Surgeon could care less and recommended I contact Mayo. I hope you see improvement.
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1 Reaction@ohp29
I had it be for knee replacement by the PA
He hit my nerves instead
Never did the surgery
Was in pain for one full year
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1 Reaction@kobesnowy Thanks. I’m almost at a year. Hopefully it will get better.
@ohp29
Thank you
@ohp29
We are all guinea pigs sadly
I had Iovera about a week prior to surgery in November of 2024. I’ve been in pain ever since. I tried to explain to the doctor and the PA how it felt. They act like I’m lying to them! 14 months and no relief in site! We truly are Guinea pigs to them.