1. < Joint Replacements

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?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Joint Replacements Support Group.

loriaakre | @loriaakre | Sep 5, 2022
In reply to @ammaw52 "Hi since my TKR on my left knee. My left foot has been numb. At times..." + (show)
@ammaw52

Hi since my TKR on my left knee. My left foot has been numb. At times I can't stand a sock on it even. It has been 6 months. I go to a new Dr thursday and hopefully he can answer a lot of my questions about problems I am having.

Jump to this post

Keep searching for answers.
I posted a few other post about my problem with my TKR - ask for an ABI test. Simple blood pressure test of legs done by ultra sound. Doesn't hurt a bit.
Lori Aakre

REPLY
sprinrosa64 | @sprinrosa64 | Sep 5, 2022
In reply to @tamstur "Oh goodness. I will look into creams I’m hoping this resolves on its own seeing I..." + (show)
@tamstur

Oh goodness. I will look into creams I’m hoping this resolves on its own seeing I am only day 4 post op. I will definitely keep you in my thoughts and prayers arhat your pain does resolve or you get an answer. What kind of knee did they give you? Mine is titanium and they did use cement. I wonder if you have scar tissue built up causing your pain.

Jump to this post

How I wish it was just scar tissue, I have gone to therapist who specialized in scar tissue and after 3 days of hell they said it had to be nerve damage. So i keep searching

REPLY
vinran | @vinran | Sep 5, 2022
In reply to @loriaakre "Vince, ask for an ABI test (blood pressure test of legs) and if there is less..." + (show)
@loriaakre

Vince, ask for an ABI test (blood pressure test of legs) and if there is less pressure in that leg, then ask for an angiogram. That is how they found my problem with a totally numb foot after my tkr. My surgeon pinched the popliteal artery behind my knee during surgery but kept telling me it was normal. (the artery that supplies the blood to lower leg/toes) My numbness was not normal. I had yet another surgery by a different surgeon who opened up the artery and took out a dead blood clot then patched the artery and sewed it up. 12 inch scar on back of leg by knee. My TKR surgeon just told me after I told him what he did was "Why did you wait so long to get it fixed...you could have lost your leg"
I went to several other ortho drs. walk in. nerve tests. they looked for clots in my veins (but not the artery). took my primary to find the problem.
Well I have my leg and foot, but have permanent damage to cells and tissue in foot and 3 toes are numb yet since it was 2 months between surgeries.
Good luck! I feel your pain! Lori

Jump to this post

Thanks for your reply.
I’ve had the deep vein tissue ultrasound, is that what you are referring to?
It turned out fine, this is why it is so frustrating.
Thanks

REPLY
1 reply
kp6350 | @kp6350 | Sep 6, 2022

I have had 2 tkr’s 10 months apart. A week after 2nd knee both feet got numb in balls of feet and first 3 toes. They diagnosed it as tarsal tunnel syndrome probably caused by my flat feet and different gait after new knees. So I guess I am stuck with neuropathy fire ever. If I knew I would end up with neuropathy I would have suffered with my knees. This is terrible.

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Sep 6, 2022
In reply to @kp6350 "I have had 2 tkr’s 10 months apart. A week after 2nd knee both feet got..." + (show)
@kp6350

I have had 2 tkr’s 10 months apart. A week after 2nd knee both feet got numb in balls of feet and first 3 toes. They diagnosed it as tarsal tunnel syndrome probably caused by my flat feet and different gait after new knees. So I guess I am stuck with neuropathy fire ever. If I knew I would end up with neuropathy I would have suffered with my knees. This is terrible.

Jump to this post

Sorry to hear this happened to you. There are ongoing discussions about numbness after surgery -but I don't know that you have to "live with it." Cleveland Clinic suggests a number of treatments: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22200-tarsal-tunnel-syndrome
Have you explored PT or orthotics for your flat feet?

REPLY
loriaakre | @loriaakre | Sep 7, 2022
In reply to @vinran "Thanks for your reply. I’ve had the deep vein tissue ultrasound, is that what you are..." + (show)
@vinran

Thanks for your reply.
I’ve had the deep vein tissue ultrasound, is that what you are referring to?
It turned out fine, this is why it is so frustrating.
Thanks

Jump to this post

Nope a deep vein ultrasound is not the same. An ABI is an ultrasound but they put blood pressure cuffs on you legs and arms. Then it measures the pressure in your legs. Mine was good on my left leg and almost no pressure on the right leg I had the TKR on. There was no pulse found on my foot on that leg without using a Doppler even then it was hard to find one. My foot was cold all the time and my toes were turning purple and was tingling all the time. Hurt to touch my little toe for some reason. When walking it felt like walking barefoot in gravel.
I had 3 ultra sound on my veins for blood clots. But non found. My pinched artery was right behind the knee and not a vein.
I had good mobility and bend and flat. Just hard to stand up n walk without holding onto something. In the hospital they put a stabilizer on my leg for me to be able to stand up cause the foot was so numb. Surgeon told me numbness was normal give it up to a year to heal the nerves. He never looked at it in the hospital or at my 2 week. Just said normal. When I went back 3 month later and told him what he did. He said “why did you wait so long to get it fixed you could have lost your leg.
Got luck! Hope all goes well got you. Lori

REPLY
1 reply
vinran | @vinran | Sep 7, 2022
In reply to @loriaakre "Nope a deep vein ultrasound is not the same. An ABI is an ultrasound but they..." + (show)
@loriaakre

Nope a deep vein ultrasound is not the same. An ABI is an ultrasound but they put blood pressure cuffs on you legs and arms. Then it measures the pressure in your legs. Mine was good on my left leg and almost no pressure on the right leg I had the TKR on. There was no pulse found on my foot on that leg without using a Doppler even then it was hard to find one. My foot was cold all the time and my toes were turning purple and was tingling all the time. Hurt to touch my little toe for some reason. When walking it felt like walking barefoot in gravel.
I had 3 ultra sound on my veins for blood clots. But non found. My pinched artery was right behind the knee and not a vein.
I had good mobility and bend and flat. Just hard to stand up n walk without holding onto something. In the hospital they put a stabilizer on my leg for me to be able to stand up cause the foot was so numb. Surgeon told me numbness was normal give it up to a year to heal the nerves. He never looked at it in the hospital or at my 2 week. Just said normal. When I went back 3 month later and told him what he did. He said “why did you wait so long to get it fixed you could have lost your leg.
Got luck! Hope all goes well got you. Lori

Jump to this post

Thanks Lori,
I have none of your symptoms, just the discomfort of
foot neuropathy and honestly only in the evening. I
do take one gabapetin 600mg At night which allows me to sleep through the night. Then I’m fine in the morning again.
It’s crazy.

REPLY
1 reply
loriaakre | @loriaakre | Sep 7, 2022
In reply to @vinran "Thanks Lori, I have none of your symptoms, just the discomfort of foot neuropathy and honestly..." + (show)
@vinran

Thanks Lori,
I have none of your symptoms, just the discomfort of
foot neuropathy and honestly only in the evening. I
do take one gabapetin 600mg At night which allows me to sleep through the night. Then I’m fine in the morning again.
It’s crazy.

Jump to this post

Doesn’t hurt to have an ABI. You never know.

REPLY
1 reply
vinran | @vinran | Sep 7, 2022
In reply to @loriaakre "Doesn’t hurt to have an ABI. You never know." + (show)
@loriaakre

Doesn’t hurt to have an ABI. You never know.

Jump to this post

I’ll ask the surgeon
App it

REPLY
tamstur | @tamstur | Sep 15, 2022
In reply to @loriaakre "I had a numb leg from knee down and totally numb foot. like you said rubber..." + (show)
@loriaakre

I had a numb leg from knee down and totally numb foot. like you said rubber when you stand up and feels like walking on gravel. Foot was cold and toes turned purple. Surgeon said it was normal - nerve damage. long story short...the surgeon pinched the popliteal artery behind my knee during surgery which cut off all blood supply to my lower leg and foot. 6 weeks later my primary said NOT NORMAL. did an ABI test (blood pressure test of legs) and then angiogram that found the pinched artery. Had to have yet another surgery where that surgeon took out a dead dried blood clot and opened the artery so I now have blood flow again, but since it was almost 2 months no blood to foot I have permanent tissue and cell damage and numbness to toes and other parts of foot. My knee dr.,when I told him what he did just said..."Why did you wait so long to get it fixed...you could have lost your leg" REALLY
Don't give up keep looking for answers! I did have a spinal injection to see if that would help and it did for about a year, but never go rid of all the issues. That Dr. just told me your knee dr. damaged more that the popliteal artery. It has been 3 1/2 years now. no change.

Jump to this post

I am sorry to hear this and this is crazy. You would think they would have some follow up test they would do to determine if any nerve or artery were damage. I am day 13 post op and will have my staples out today. I am still having the foot numbness on top and bottom and at night if I lay too long a certain way I wake up to a severe feeling of someone ripping the top of my toes open. I have to reposition my foot and move it for a while before that pain resolves but the numbness is still very much present. I am definitely going to ask my surgeon about this today and bring up the popliteal artery also. Hoping to get answers. Please keep me posted on your status. Good luck my friend.

REPLY
2 replies
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.