Nerve damage during surgery

I think it is cowardly for doctors not to mention what cause may be (i.e. nerve damage). Guess it could ruin their reputation and worse. But, can anything be done about NERVE DAMAGE? DO SOME NERVES GROW BACK? OR DOES IT MATTER WHICH NERVES? (I am afraid of the answer here….)

I dont remember where I read this but I read if just stretched nerve during surgery then 6 – 12 weeks to resolve itself. If cut, nicked or lacerated then 6- 12 months to heal itself but it may not heal and then is permanent unless you try surgery for nerve graft. My primary doc agreed with this as well as my physical therapist

Thank you. I will research nerve grafts. Here's the thing: I am physically active (Pickleball, golf, some body workouts.) Have always had good/normal balance and coordination. Since my 2nd TKR 21 months ago I go down stairs very slowly always holding on; I bump into things more than I ever have (this REALLY SURPRISES me); I have little tripping episodes; I fell once. I HAVE NEVER BEEN A PERSON WHO FALLS. I think my leg is not as "coordinated" as it was. Could that be nerve damage? It is almost as if I do not lift my foot QUITE high enough when walking and so I bump into things sometimes. Reluctantly, I admit I am 78, but this is not an age issue. As i said I play sports. I told surgeon one leg now possibly seems a bit shorter?? He said build up your core. Is that good advice? Could it be eyesight (do not think so). I just feel a little unbalanced overall sometimes.

You have foot drop because of nerve damage. I highly reccomend talking to a physical therapist or your doc about the turbomed brace! Google it. Because I had nerve damage during my right total knee replacement 7wks ago my surgeon ordered this brace because i was tripping. When nerves are cut during surgery and never heal(grow back together) the nerves can no longer tell your muscles what to do and muscles begin to atrophy and require ongoing exercise and stretching to prevent this. Without regular stretching the muscles atrophy and eventually you may be unable to put your heel down on the floor. But you sound like you have the exercise thing covered! Good luck to you! My surgeon said my Pereoneal nerve was stretched during surgery but that it would resolve itself in first he said a few weeks, then he said 3 mos, now he says 3-6 mos. I have noticed NO change in 7 weeks. My primary doc said give it one more month and if no change she would refer me for a 2nd opinion. So we'll see where this goes. There is a turbomed/foot drop facebook group that may be of interest. Again, good luck!

Sounds exactly like me.
No answers from surgeon or PT either
After giving consideration to all aspects of the surgery, I am inclined to think there is a relationship with the tourniquet application and this tight band business.
Immediately after the pressure dressing was removed, I noticed immense pain in my thigh to crotch also the blackest blue in that area all the way down to the ankle. There was a very hard nonpliable feel in the quadricep to the top of the incision. Needless to say swelling also.
Sciatic nerve raged with pain from hip to ankle for 2 weeks then subsided to a semi tolerable level. After the PT course, and the sciatic pain dissisipated, to intermittent bouts but there was a hard-wedge feeling at the upper part of the tibia which about drove me insane. This did leave eventually.
If the tourniquet did trauma to the sciatic nerve, this may explain the band tightness feeling. The sciatic nerve bifercates into the peroneal nerve along the anterior tibialis
And that may be the readson for this band feeling. NERVE TRAUMA
Anyone else have tourniquet residual trauma with this band of tightness we try to describe to our medical specialists?

Don't be too eager to gack to surgery until you've given time a chaance.

I agree about afree syrgery classes

Does your foot seem to drop while walking? Question Dr aboit foot drop. A special brace helps the tripping effect.
The peroneal nerve may be damaged but I would be skeptical about checking out any nerve repair surgeries though. Nerve regeneration takes a loooong time.

They say that but like my surgery it has not gone away. It's been 5 years and have had all kinds of injections with nothingvhelping.
For me the more I walk the tighter it gets!!! The more when I excercise ed the more pain I got. Will be seeing my surgeon monday as I have to get the other one done in November. He also wants to go over my Knee problem. Good luck with yours.

I've had mine for five years and it's so frustrating as it stops me from doing so many things! Its starts on one side then travels under the knee to the other side. I had to quit walking as the more I walked the tighter and severe the pain got. I ware a brace on it sometimes to to make it feel secure. Good luck with yours

Mine has lasted over 5 years! The more I walked the worse it felt! I had all kinds of injections and nothing worked. It's just so depressing. I've had to quit so many things its depressing. My wife had both her knees done my the same surgeon and she don't feel any problems. Good luck with yours.

Sounds like my knee. My operation is over 5 years and it bothers me like day one. The more I exercise the tighter it gets. Quit doing alot of things. Seeing the Surgeon Monday and talk about it. Then we talk about my other knee for surgery. Good luck.

Mine is 5 1/2 years. Have had many different injections with no results.
Will see my surgeon Monday and discuss what to do next and talk about my other knee which is coming up.

I do not have foot drop though