Should I have knee replacement with neuropathy?

Good evening, @susiesprue, welcome, welcome, welcome to Connect. It looks like you have had some time to look around before creating a post for yourself. I hope that means you have been preparing and probably know as much as I do about TKRs and neuropathy.

So let's get right to it. First of all, do folks call you Susie? Your @name jumped off the screen when I read it. Even though I have had a few names in the last 81 years, I had forgotten about Susie. That is what my family called me. I don't know why. Perhaps it was a part of the common nickname "Susie Q". At the time, I didn't like being called Susie. Now that everyone in my immediate family is no longer here, I just realized how the memories can flood back into your brain and heart when I saw @susieprue.

Perhaps it would be best if I answered your main question. Yes, I have had a very successful knee replacement recently after being diagnosed by skin biopsy with SFN, Small Fiber Neuropathy. My SFN was the result of trauma from injuries and surgeries. In August of 2021, I had my second TKR on my right knee. The surgery was a Mako Robotic effort that guarantees increased surgical accuracy and a minimally invasive procedure.

Together, my surgeon and I discussed options for controlling the SFN during the surgery and post-surgery therapy. He honored my request for medical cannabis which I use to control chronic pain. I agreed to his request for a commitment to participate in pre and post-surgery PT. It worked out well and my knee feels like it has always belonged to me.

Is there something in particular that you are concerned about other than medication and physical therapy?
Let me know.

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

How long did it yoke to recover from the knee replacement to the point that you could walk comfortably?

Had Right total knee Arthroplasty Feb 24, 2023. (Stryker GMRS Revision).
I have Neuropathy about 4 years. Last two yesrs absolute worse. Lots of Therapy for knee and now walking with no pain. Not so with Neuropathy. I am waiting for Walkasis to become available. Check it out!!

Just FYI, I have had foot and some leg neuropathy due to nerve damage from a back injury years ago. Last summer I had the bad luck of breaking my ankle in a freak accident. After 3 months of doing nothing, no walking, no driving (right foot) I was dismayed to find, as I did 2 months of Therapy, that my neuropathy had become worse! I feel like I am back to where I was years ago. I don't feel stable when walking and the soles of my feet sometimes hurt, esp. without shoes on. I don't know if it was the anathesia (doubt it) or the complete lack of exercise for so long (probably). But I would warn others that surgery may not be kind to your Neuropathy. Every person reacts differently to everything.

Hello Chris! Thanks for the response. Yes I am new here. Yes I was called Susie and yes I absolutely hated it!😬

It’s good to know that there has been success. I will look into the type of surgery you received. I am taking a deeper dive into my neuropathy, hoping to get clearer about what exactly is going on besides idiopathic.

But pain and knee weakness are becoming so difficult, if I could at least have some relief there I can focus on the neuropathy. I am concerned i get new knees, and two things occur;, my neuropathy gets far worse and I can’t walk, making the new knees certainly not worth the effort, pain, time, money, everything. Biggest fear is not walking period, irregardless of new knees. But it is absolutely tue for me that exercise and stretching make a huge difference, so a working knee(s) could be a game changer.

Yes I had Knee Replacement in January

Had Right total knee Arthroplasty Feb 24, 2023. (Stryker GMRS Revision).
I have had Neuropathy for about 4 years. Last two years absolute worse. Lots of Therapy for knee and now walking with no pain. Not so with Neuropathy. I am waiting for Walkasis to become available. Check it out!!

I also have peripheral neuropathy in my legs and hands. I had knee replacement surgery in one knee. I was not able to do the recovery exercises as well as others, but knee pain was eliminated. Due to balance issues I still use a walker however. At least I can bc stand and walk and that knee is not painful.

What is Walkasis?

Good evening @susiesprue, I appreciate your response......especially the "Suzie Q" message.

When you say idiopathic.....that tells me that you are not dealing with cancer therapy or diabetes. For me, managing neuropathy is beginning to be a pretty full-time job. I did my first river walk today, now that Spring is really here. It was beautiful outside and the evening climate was perfect. However, I feel like I am starting over again at square one. It will be a while before I can get in 2 or more miles. The knees are fine. The neuropathic pain nuisance kept me to about 1 mile. We'll see how long it takes me to get to 2 miles. The Barometric Pressure needs to stay above 30 so I don't have so much pain with which to deal.

It was joyful just to hear the birds and notice the tulips and other spring flowers. I will enclose a photo of the evening sky and the smooth quiet Mississippi.