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Foot neuropathy (numbness and pain) after total knee replacement (TKR)

Posted by norby @norby, Nov 26, 2018

I had a right total knee replacement 10 weeks ago and came out of surgery with numbness and intermittent pain on the bottom of my right foot. However, I do have good motor function in that foot. The knee has been healing and with PT, movement is on track, but the foot is a major challenge. The foot pain at times is worse than any from the knee. I have been able to generally manage the foot pain with gabapentin. My surgeon believes this may resolve in time but may take from 6-12 months. However there is a possibility that it will never go away. Has anyone else experienced foot neuropathy following knee replacement? If so, what was your experience with it?

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phigg | @phigg | Apr 15, 2022
In reply to @navyqas "Had bottom foot numbness same day as TKR, never got better, 10 months after TKR, lower..." + (show)
@navyqas

Had bottom foot numbness same day as TKR, never got better, 10 months after TKR, lower back started to hurt, after one year more I could hardly stand the low back pain it got so bad, tried acute puncture, spinal injections, you name it I tried it. Finally received two disk replacements and a laminectomy 7 moths ago. Back is stiff but ok, foot still numb as the day of TKR. Just saying, before the TKR I was in great shape except for knee pain, wish I never had TKR done, it all started after the TKR. Also have knee pain at night, now it's been TWO years! I thought a TKR was no big deal, I was wrong!

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So sorry , you’ve been through a lot . I hope with time things improve for you so that you can get your active life back.

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Mentor
Chris Trout, Volunteer Mentor | @artscaping | Apr 15, 2022
In reply to @phigg "Thank you. I haven’t checked out medical cannabis as yet, I have used a delta 8..." + (show)
@phigg

Thank you. I haven’t checked out medical cannabis as yet, I have used a delta 8 indica product that helps me sleep and I take full spectrum CBD daily. And the gabapentin which I’ve just started taking seems to be helping, we’ll see! I am going to pursue a MFR therapist. I live by the beach in NC and hope to be taking my dog on long walks in the sand again.

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Good evening. I am so glad I asked. It sounds like you have a good handle on what you are doing and where you are going. Long walks on the beach with the dog.......I loved my beeches and my dogs. I now live on the Mississippi River, not exactly a beach and I am too old for dogs. It wouldn't be fair to them. Isn't it great....I had German Shepherds on the Atlantic and Cavaliers on the Pacific. Enjoy, and of course, please let me know if you are able to find an MFR therapist. Have you looked at "Find a Therapist on the myofascial.com site?

May you have happiness and the causes of happiness.

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1 reply
phigg | @phigg | Apr 16, 2022
In reply to @artscaping "Good evening. I am so glad I asked. It sounds like you have a good handle..." + (show)
@artscaping

Good evening. I am so glad I asked. It sounds like you have a good handle on what you are doing and where you are going. Long walks on the beach with the dog.......I loved my beeches and my dogs. I now live on the Mississippi River, not exactly a beach and I am too old for dogs. It wouldn't be fair to them. Isn't it great....I had German Shepherds on the Atlantic and Cavaliers on the Pacific. Enjoy, and of course, please let me know if you are able to find an MFR therapist. Have you looked at "Find a Therapist on the myofascial.com site?

May you have happiness and the causes of happiness.

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Thanks Chris! I found three MFR therapists in my immediate area. I’ve been meaning to include massage in my self care routine and this is certainly motivation to get started. I lost my 14 y/o westie a few weeks ago. I have a 7 y/o russel terrier that’s missing her as much as we are. He’s a funny and affectionate boy and being totally spoiled now 😊

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1 reply
sharebear | @sharebear | Apr 16, 2022
In reply to @artscaping "Good evening @phigg, I am sorry to read that you are still dealing with foot pain...." + (show)
@artscaping

Good evening @phigg, I am sorry to read that you are still dealing with foot pain. When we connected in March, medical cannabis was discussed as an opportunity for your foot pain. Were you able to find a source? If so, what did you choose and at what dosage? I also wanted to follow up with you on finding an MFR therapist. I think that is because I just had my feet worked on today. And that is so that I can drive my car. Do you need some help along the way?

May you be free of suffering and the causes of suffering.
Chris

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Does it work? I have so much pain after my surgery it’s been 5 weeks and I can barely bend my knee

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1 reply
Mentor
Chris Trout, Volunteer Mentor | @artscaping | Apr 16, 2022
In reply to @sharebear "Does it work? I have so much pain after my surgery it’s been 5 weeks and..." + (show)
@sharebear

Does it work? I have so much pain after my surgery it’s been 5 weeks and I can barely bend my knee

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Good afternoon @sharebear, I don't quite know what "it" you are commenting about. If it is medical cannabis topical....yes it works. If it is MFR....yes it works as long as you have regular sessions to keep up with the recovery. Remember two things.....a TKR is a major surgery involving muscles, bones, connective tissue like fascia and tendons, nerves, and ligaments. All have been disturbed, replaced or modified in some way. Hands-on therapy like MFR.....can adjust to changes as the healing
progresses.

What are you doing in regular PT.......I went twice a week starting the day after surgery. I was able to reach a ROM of 137 by just forcing myself to work at it every day. I was given a series of at-home exercises to do which I followed faithfully. I had also participated in a pre-surgery exercise program which, in retrospect, helped immensely. I don't know any other way to manage this surgery and recovery. This is my second TKR and I was climbing stairs one foot at a time within a few weeks. My first one, 10 years ago....took me a year to totally recover.

By the way.....did you have robotic, same-day surgery?

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

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2 replies
ilovemary4749 | @ilovemary4749 | Apr 17, 2022
In reply to @artscaping "Good afternoon @sharebear, I don't quite know what "it" you are commenting about. If it is..." + (show)
@artscaping

Good afternoon @sharebear, I don't quite know what "it" you are commenting about. If it is medical cannabis topical....yes it works. If it is MFR....yes it works as long as you have regular sessions to keep up with the recovery. Remember two things.....a TKR is a major surgery involving muscles, bones, connective tissue like fascia and tendons, nerves, and ligaments. All have been disturbed, replaced or modified in some way. Hands-on therapy like MFR.....can adjust to changes as the healing
progresses.

What are you doing in regular PT.......I went twice a week starting the day after surgery. I was able to reach a ROM of 137 by just forcing myself to work at it every day. I was given a series of at-home exercises to do which I followed faithfully. I had also participated in a pre-surgery exercise program which, in retrospect, helped immensely. I don't know any other way to manage this surgery and recovery. This is my second TKR and I was climbing stairs one foot at a time within a few weeks. My first one, 10 years ago....took me a year to totally recover.

By the way.....did you have robotic, same-day surgery?

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

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What kind of pre surgical exercises did you do? That was not mentioned to me but makes sense

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2 replies
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Apr 17, 2022
In reply to @ilovemary4749 "What kind of pre surgical exercises did you do? That was not mentioned to me but..." + (show)
@ilovemary4749

What kind of pre surgical exercises did you do? That was not mentioned to me but makes sense

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@ilovemary4749, Here's my favorite pre-surgery exercises for knee replacement.

REPLY
sharebear | @sharebear | Apr 17, 2022
In reply to @artscaping "Good afternoon @sharebear, I don't quite know what "it" you are commenting about. If it is..." + (show)
@artscaping

Good afternoon @sharebear, I don't quite know what "it" you are commenting about. If it is medical cannabis topical....yes it works. If it is MFR....yes it works as long as you have regular sessions to keep up with the recovery. Remember two things.....a TKR is a major surgery involving muscles, bones, connective tissue like fascia and tendons, nerves, and ligaments. All have been disturbed, replaced or modified in some way. Hands-on therapy like MFR.....can adjust to changes as the healing
progresses.

What are you doing in regular PT.......I went twice a week starting the day after surgery. I was able to reach a ROM of 137 by just forcing myself to work at it every day. I was given a series of at-home exercises to do which I followed faithfully. I had also participated in a pre-surgery exercise program which, in retrospect, helped immensely. I don't know any other way to manage this surgery and recovery. This is my second TKR and I was climbing stairs one foot at a time within a few weeks. My first one, 10 years ago....took me a year to totally recover.

By the way.....did you have robotic, same-day surgery?

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

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Hello , yes that is what I was speaking of :). I haven’t gone to PT here. I live in a very small place. This is my second operation on the same knee. First time they did a TKR and left my kneecap. That went very well actually. This time it was day surgery and they reopened my knee and did my knee cap. This time around it is so much worse for some reason. I do all the exercises with great difficulty , first time around I had way more range of motion. A lot less pain than I do now. Frankly I am worried because it clunks and grinds so much and hurts every time. Guess I’ll have to see what the surgeon says. Sounds like you have a really good handle on things. Good for you!!! Thanks for the caring words. I hope you’re able to stay healthy amongst the pandemic 😷

REPLY
sharebear | @sharebear | Apr 18, 2022
In reply to @phigg "Thanks Chris! I found three MFR therapists in my immediate area. I’ve been meaning to include..." + (show)
@phigg

Thanks Chris! I found three MFR therapists in my immediate area. I’ve been meaning to include massage in my self care routine and this is certainly motivation to get started. I lost my 14 y/o westie a few weeks ago. I have a 7 y/o russel terrier that’s missing her as much as we are. He’s a funny and affectionate boy and being totally spoiled now 😊

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Hi there should my knee be so swollen six weeks lost op? Seems like I can’t do anything with it without it swelling up so much. And pain is at a 5-6 with the crunching and grinding

REPLY
Mentor
Chris Trout, Volunteer Mentor | @artscaping | Apr 19, 2022
In reply to @ilovemary4749 "What kind of pre surgical exercises did you do? That was not mentioned to me but..." + (show)
@ilovemary4749

What kind of pre surgical exercises did you do? That was not mentioned to me but makes sense

Jump to this post

I see that @johnbishop has included the answer to pre-surgical exercises. It covers the subject well.
Chris

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