neuropathy long after TKR & THR (4). any connection?

a correction

I started taking Gabapentin 600 milligrams, it’s not addictive and they have started using it for pain as well and it has really helped me alot with my nerves and I’m not diabetic as well!

Thank you for your response. I ask WHY too much, I know. Even though I'm fairly healthy, I've had lots of contact with things that cause me pain. My husband died at 68 after 47 years of marriage and he became a severe diabetic. He had heart problems - no heart attack, eventually lost his vision to force him to stop driving - loved bird hunting and had to give it up; he was a very good auctioneer along with he and I had a good life in the auction business, but gradually lost his voice and his breath and had to give up his ability to do what he loved.
I could go on and on since 2 brothers traveled the same paths of decline.
When I complained of my feet and legs hurting my PC sent me to a "foot" doctor - a specialist in our area - Steadman Hawkins; he clipped my toenails said they were too long and explained there was nothing he or anybody else could do for the pain except take meds. I resisted until I read in my records that he said my main complaint was I couldn't get to my toenails to clip so they would need to continue to do that for me. I was not happy. I never mentioned to him anything about my toenails except the "fungus" that I constantly have to treat.
I am very active, outside and inside "stuff" have two big yellow labs that keep me jumping, have 150 Angus cows on 300 acres, and except for "bad joints" in knees & hips, I'm reasonably healthy at 75. but my PC automatically began treating diabetes. My BS began a pattern of dropping numerous times a day to between 58-60. I requested to be taken off the meds but to continue using the sensor. That proved to them my BS was not causing my neuropathy. But it was getting worse...I can not wear any kind of shoe for any length of time with terrible pain and I can't get relief once that starts. I can feel my feet wanting to drag, Numbness coming on and off, and various areas of the bottoms of my feet. She began Gabapentin 100mg @ night and continue to add to that in the mornings & noon until the pain eased. It has eased slightly. I have a friend who is on it and she is very diabetic...that I understand, but I'm not and no one in my family was or is diabetic.
Here's where WHY comes in.
Hence my question about my arthritic knees and hips and replacements starting early and early in the set-in of replacing them.
I hope one day we'll know and can do something to prevent this from happening to us for apparently no reason. Keep looking and asking and posting for a solution....thank you! Debbie Martin

Hello @debmart3248, I would like to add my welcome to Connect along with @lonna66 and others. I can relate to not being a diabetic and asking the question why do I have neuropathy. Long answer, short - there are a gazillion and one possible causes (just kidding but there are a lot!) and sometimes it's like I heard an 80+ year old neurologist say at a Minnesota Neuropathy Association meeting - Do you know why they call it "idiopathic"? It's because the idiot neurologist can't figure it out. That brought the house down and while it made us all feel good for a moment, we still didn't have any answer to the cause of our neuropathy. I was diagnosed with idiopathic small fiber peripheral neuropathy and shared my story in another discussion here - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/310341/.

My best suggestion is to learn as much as you can about your condition and what treatments are available that may provide some relief. A good place to start is with the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy - https://www.foundationforpn.org/.

I also have issues with shoes but I don't have bunions that cause any pain or problems. I recently had a consult with an ortho foot specialist to see if my balance issues could be related to my neuropathy and hammertoes. He recommended always wearing softer top shoes that have a lot of room in the toe area which I am already doing. He also recommended physical therapy for balance which I'm still working on.

Did your foot doctor give you any suggestions to help with the bunions and associated pain other than medication?

Hi. I have had neuropathy in both feet since my tkr’s 5 plus yrs ago. Drs. Say my gait since my new knees with my flat overpronated feet. Orthotics, PT nothing helps. Neurologist said tarsal tunnel syndrome ( like carpal tunnel only in ankles). 3 surgical decompressions in left foot being the worse. NOTHING has changed. My right foot has exact same symptoms but only milder so it is telling me it is not tarsal tunnel. No one has ever touched or did surgery on my right foot. With all this technology no one can figure this out and where the nerve is that is compressed. I am so depressed and searching for help

@kp6350, I'm wondering if the doctors think your gait is causing some of your pain. I think there are some members who have found some relief from gait training exercises. Here is a reference on the topic. It talks about diabetic neuropathy patients but I'm pretty sure it is the same for any person with gait issues after TKRs:

"ROM, muscle strengthening, gait and balance exercises can improve gait of diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy."
--- Effectiveness of Exercise Therapy on Gait Function in Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy Patients: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7425100/.

Have you looked into having your gait analyzed and getting gait physical therapy?

I’m going to PT now but haven’t heard much about gait training. They stretch my calves and ankles and he told me to try to remember to walk with my foot tilted to the outside a bit .🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

Thank all of you for your responses. Please keep them coming and maybe someone will have found "The Answer".