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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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ldtfranklin | @ldtfranklin | Mar 26, 2023
In reply to @artscaping "Good evening @ldtfranklin and welcome to Connect. This is a place, actually, a forum that is..." + (show)
@artscaping

Good evening @ldtfranklin and welcome to Connect. This is a place, actually, a forum that is has a goal of increasing knowledge by sharing the actual experiences of other patients, caregivers, and providers.

You are just recovering from a very recent surgery. It is way too early to lock yourself into a diagnosis of neuropathy in your right foot. It has only been 4 weeks. A TKR is major orthopedic surgery. Muscles, ligaments, and the surrounding fascia that connects everything need time to heel and build strength that will support your body. I have had two TKRs. The last one was 1 and 1/2 years ago. I remember dealing with the heavy feelings in the arch of the foot. Even tonight while writing this I am testing my feet. They are not perfect but much better.

Give it some time. And here's a hint. Every morning I do a Yoga pose called "Legs up the Wall". Just "Google" it. Do you do the sliding exercise? That also helps. I also try to push any swelling or other form of liquid from the ankle and knee down my leg while it is in the air. Then you can eliminate the fluid when you urinate. Did you start PT right after your TKR? Was it a robotic surgery?

The other big help for me is MFR, myofascial release therapy. You can start that immediately to help you with this situation. Do you know about MFR?

I am pretty amazed that you had a bone broken during surgery. I have never heard of such an experience. That must also be trying to heal along with the other TKR elements.

Please let me know your response at this point.
May you be free of suffering and the causes of suffering.
Chris

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Just to add to what I first wrote I’m not very stable at my age (67). I have a birth defect of Spinal Narrowing, Scoliosis, and with Arthritis affecting joints in my body I use a walker and only use a cane for very short distances. MFR not familiar with but I’m going read upon it

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Mentor
Chris Trout, Volunteer Mentor | @artscaping | Mar 28, 2023
In reply to @ldtfranklin "Thank you so much for a lot of information I really needed to hear from someone..." + (show)
@ldtfranklin

Thank you so much for a lot of information I really needed to hear from someone that can relate to me. This is my second total knee replacement. The left knee surgery went well but getting therapy was the problem because the Home Healthcare agency the hospital chose failed me. The RN came one time so therefore I ended up with my knee burning up that my little grandson said grandma you need to go to the hospital he felt the heat from my leg and he was a good piece away from me. I ended up in ER 3 times so it threw my therapy appointments off to the point where I didn’t get home therapy at all and was actually way behind. I went to my Orthopedic and had been in contact with them about what was going on, but I’m in the waiting room and my leg starts bleeding again while I’m waiting. They changed the bandage before I was called back to see him I told them I need some help here. And they were shocked cause my bandage was soaked and they said come on back, my doctor was pissed afraid it was infected, gave a letter to give the RN which never returned my calls or text. So I called the facility he work for and little good that did he had them believing he had been coming out but lied and didn’t know I had the texts he sent. So I called my insurance company and reported him to the state and told them I don’t want them to get paid for some service they’re not doing. They filed a grievance on my behalf and thought I was lying but I said I don’t have to lie I have the texts as proof. You could hear the silence on the line and his boss says can you send me the texts I said certainly. But I made it but this broken bone issue I wasn’t expecting at all because I had arthritis in both knees and steroids in both knees and last time I had gotten those shots was in mid 2018. On the subject of Neuropathy I was already diagnosed with it few years ago. I do leg rubs but I’m gonna do more often and push it down from the knee and all the good advice

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Good evening @ldtfranklin franklin, and thanks for keeping me up to date. I am so sorry that you have had to spend so much time and energy attempting to right a wrong. Just one comment this evening that should justify my request/need to know how you are doing. When you move liquid or fluid down your leg so that it can be evacuated with urination....please remember that you need to have your foot in the air and your backside on the floor. That way you push the fluid down to your upper thigh and then the pelvic area.

Let me know if we are both on the same page at this point.
May you be content and at peace.
Chris

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1 reply
ldtfranklin | @ldtfranklin | Mar 28, 2023
In reply to @artscaping "Good evening @ldtfranklin franklin, and thanks for keeping me up to date. I am so sorry..." + (show)
@artscaping

Good evening @ldtfranklin franklin, and thanks for keeping me up to date. I am so sorry that you have had to spend so much time and energy attempting to right a wrong. Just one comment this evening that should justify my request/need to know how you are doing. When you move liquid or fluid down your leg so that it can be evacuated with urination....please remember that you need to have your foot in the air and your backside on the floor. That way you push the fluid down to your upper thigh and then the pelvic area.

Let me know if we are both on the same page at this point.
May you be content and at peace.
Chris

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Yes Chris I have been massaging every chance I get. Massaging with blessed oil is an everyday thing. I told my brother I’ve used so much blessed oil on my knee enough to cover my apartment complex 😂. But I massage day and night and if I’m awaken with pain I’m up rubbing again cause I notice fluid retention does play it’s part in causing pain. Someone suggested CBD oil so I’m putting little blessed oil and take the CBD oil and just massage it cause it actually hurts at times. But I’m praying for a greater outcome. I’ve gone through so many surgeries until it’s like even my family falls away when they hear I’m going through surgery. My deceased husband asked me one time you must be like being in the hospital. You tell me what idiot would subject themselves to over 15 surgeries and counting. I remember crying and asking God when, when is this going to end, when am I going to stop having surgery, and then I said why my sisters and brothers don’t go through like me, why am I always sick. HE BlEW MY MIND. I heard that night a song playing and I usually always listen to gospel music when I go to sleep. But this very particular night HE ANSWERED RIGHT OFF and the song was “THIS BATTLE IS NOT YOURS ITS THE LORDS” by Yolanda Adams. So I looked under my bed cause I know after I’ve drifted off to sleep I always cut the radio off. But guess what the radio wasn’t on at all. That blew my mind and right then and there I said “ok LORD”. I’m the vessel that HE HAS POURED OUT INTO AND HE ONLY WANTS TO USE ME FOR HIS GLORY. But some tests are so hard and he knows we’re human so I cry out for HIS HELP and that’s what he desires. So when the battle is over I can look back and see it wasn’t my battle at all and HE NEVER PUTS MORE ON YOU THAN WHAT YOU CAN BEAR AND BEFORE YOU BREAK IN THE MIDST OF THE BATTLE BEFORE YOURE READY TO GIVE YOU THROW IN THE TOWELS HE COMES AND RESCUES US BECAUSE HE KNOWS OUR FRAME THE WE ARE HUMAN SO HE WILL RESCUE US IN THE HEAT OF THE BATTLE. But i have to remind myself each time “it’s just a test of your faith.” Thank you Chris

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kp6350 | @kp6350 | Mar 29, 2023

Yes. Both feet. However both feet after just one knee. PT resolved ?. Then second knee and came back and never went away. Might add I have severely flat feet with overpronation.suffer daily for going on 6 yrs. .

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1 reply
npetka | @npetka | Mar 31, 2023

I developed neuropathy after knee replacement. It started with tingling on bottom of my left foot and it went to my right foot as well and it has never gone away. That was in 2011 and I am currently trying laser treatments for it without success. I have met many people who have developed neuropathy after having a surgery. Good Luck to you and I wish you all the best.

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fourj | @fourj | Jun 1, 2023

- Foot pain after total knee replacement
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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jun 1, 2023
In reply to @fourj "- Foot pain after total knee replacement File added" + (show)
@fourj

- Foot pain after total knee replacement
File added

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Welcome, @fourj. I moved your question foot pain after total knee replacement to this existing discussion:
- Foot neuropathy (numbness and pain) after total knee replacement (TKR): https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/foot-neuropathy-after-total-knee-replacement/

I did this so you can easily connect with other members who have similar experiences. Click the link to read previous posts and helpful tips.

You can click reply below any post to respond to someone's posts rather than uploading it as an image. 🙂

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fourj | @fourj | Jun 1, 2023

Thank you. Hopeful to get some answers from those who suffer as well. We all want to get better and live a pain free life

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fourj | @fourj | Jun 1, 2023
In reply to @fourj "- Foot pain after total knee replacement File added" + (show)
@fourj

- Foot pain after total knee replacement
File added

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I would love to know how @norby made out with her issues? But that was from 2018.

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continentalred | @continentalred | Jun 2, 2023
In reply to @kp6350 "Yes. Both feet. However both feet after just one knee. PT resolved ?. Then second knee..." + (show)
@kp6350

Yes. Both feet. However both feet after just one knee. PT resolved ?. Then second knee and came back and never went away. Might add I have severely flat feet with overpronation.suffer daily for going on 6 yrs. .

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I am wondering if the shoes you are wearing could be contributing to this. I had knee surgery in Sept 2022 and I recently experienced similar pain when I started wearing summer type shoes without a a lot of support. If you have flat feet this could be your problem B perhaps you knee shoes with greater support
Weigh control is also important

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