Should I have knee replacement with neuropathy?

Posted by susiesprue @susiesprue, May 6, 2023

I have idiopathic neuropathy, in my feet and legs, stiff, tingling, burning cramping at night, the usual, and I have painful arthritic knees. Hyluronic acid did not work, considering prp therapy. Has anyone been successful in knee replacement as a diagnosed neuropathy patient? If not suggested, what would one do?

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jchet | @jchet | May 21 10:14am

In reply to @davidpn "Hi Chris, I’m in Glenview just north of Chicago. Use to do many lakefront bike rides..." + (show)

I have the same issues as you with your feet. Have you ever had COVID? My issues with SFPN seemed to have increased since I had it. I’m really thinking my worsening symptoms of fatigue and shortness of breath are after effects of having COVID for the first time. There’s no blood test to determine an answer, but I seriously think I have chronic fatigue syndrome as a result. That along with SFPN leave me with very little energy.

liloldlady | @liloldlady | May 21 10:52am

In reply to @davidpn "Hi Chris, I’m in Glenview just north of Chicago. Use to do many lakefront bike rides..." + (show)

this is going to sound a bit weird, but, here goes. For several months, when i walked simply from a parking lot, into the store, and i did park sort as far away as i could, to make me walk, but even that short distance, when i was 1/2 way to the store, i was huffin and puffin, and felt like shortness of breath. This was going on for may months. I didn't worry tooooo much, because, my daily activities is mainly sitting down, playing cards in a rec center. BUT.........one day, i had to have an ultrasound. It took about 20 or more minutes to do. The gal, had me breathe as deep as i could and HOLD my breath , she always said, ok , you can breathe, which was right up to the point where i would have had to , with, or without her permission. She had to turn me on my sides, and i had many many minutes of holding my breathe. Strange part............when i got out of there, i noticed immediately, that my breathing was better, and i was able to walk farther without huffin and puffin. so for a few days, before starting my day, i did the hold your breathe, altho, i did not do it for 20 minutes. But i would take maybe 6 or 7 deep breathes and hold . Since then, i haven't felt that heavy feeling in my chest. Ok, granted, this is not going to cure a medical problem, but, it did help my heavy chest feeling of being tired from walking just a short distance. My thoughts, if it might help even a tiny tiny bit, for someone..........then maybe this silly little thing, of holding your breathe, will be helpful to someone. Nice thing, no needles, no drugs, and if it doesn't work for you.........it was easy enough to try. I understand there are medical problems with lungs, etc., that this will most likely not help. But, this simple little thing might help someone, and is so simple you could try it right now, while you are reading these comments on this website..........

lynfrommn | @lynfrommn | May 21 1:42pm

In reply to @pumpiron3 "I have had both knees replaced. No change in Neuropathy" + (show)

I've had a total hip replacement (left leg) and total knee replacement (right leg) in the last 3 years. Neither has changed the symptoms of ideopathic peripheral neuropathy I've had for the last 7 years.

lakelariet | @lakelariet | May 22 11:15am

In reply to @jakefix82 "I have idiopathic PN, diagnosed about 3 years ago when I explained to my new PCP..." + (show)

@jakefix82

I have idiopathic PN, diagnosed about 3 years ago when I explained to my new PCP (primary care provider) that my muscle aches felt different from the fibromyalgia aches diagnosed 40+ years ago in my mid-thirties. Am 75 now, PCP that I loved is now deceased. Anyway, I got a full neurological work up, bloodwork, etc, since it’s been 40 years. They diagnosed idiopathic PN. I’ve used an old muscle relaxer on an at needed basis for the fibro for 30 years and still use it - rarely use a OTC pain med. However, for several years now, I’ve found I get stiff as cardboard and can hardly move my legs/feet (have to shuffle them) if I go 2-3 days on less than 8 hrs of sleep. I attribute this to the PN because doctors are clueless and it makes sense to me. The debilitating stiffness is an established pattern, so when I suddenly become stiff (it comes on quickly), I know why. Always not enough sleep. People with post polio syndrome also experience this - their nerves over-compensated for years after childhood paralytic polio and when older, the nerves are just shot. They’re told to rest and don’t overdo exercising. I didn’t have polio, but my symptoms are the same and resolve with rest. Sometimes it takes a few days - lots of rest - to restore the nerve conduction. I’m guessing the nerves are just in overdrive to fire up my muscles - and boom! they can quit suddenly! However, I now have bone on bone OA in left knee - and that knee also gets inflamed because I have a congenital condition discovered during imaging for something else. It’s called bipartite patella - essentially the cartilage that’s supposed to fuse together to make a one bone knee cap during childhood never happened. About 1% of people have this - the two bones are held together with connective tissue that as I age with wear and tear, gets inflamed. I’m overweight, pre-diabetic. Exercise has been hard for me since the fibro diagnosis - I get what’s called “post exertion malaise” after exercising,
one’s entire body feels like the flu. I think it’s the nerves in overdrive, a reaction to exercising. They finally gave a name to this “malaise” a few years ago. I see an orthopedist next week about this OA. I’m not in too much pain - this knee flared up after I decided to try exercising in a warm water therapy pool last month. The knee bends and leg kicks were too much on this knee and I could hardly walk. Imaging revealed bone-on-bone OA. Have been watching videos and doing leg exercises on my own and wear a neoprene brace. Can walk as much as 30 minutes to do grocery shopping or walk around Target - then legs give out because muscles are working hard to stabilize that weak knee. I’m seriously debating if TKR is right for me - the Dr may say no. I’ve not had to take any injections. At 75, with relatively little pain, a rather sedentary life style because I tire easily, I’m still able to do housework and live independently I’m afraid TKR might end all that if it doesn’t work for me. When I hear people say TKR interferes with sleep the first few weeks, I know that means my muscles won’t work because of the PN. Lots to think about! But I think your tiredness is due to PN, as I really think mine is.

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Of course everyone is different, but I am 85 & just had my 2nd total knee replacement.
It was not nearly as painful as I had been told. I have had several hip replacements.
The hips have been much more limiting than the knees.
I was diagnosed with fibro 40 years ago but have not been treated for 30 years and dont know if that is affecting the neuropathy. I use gabapentin which I am increasing to 900mg because
neuropathy is increasingly painful. Have also had 3 back laminectomies so dont know if hip or back surgeries are reason for neuropathy. You sound as if you are doing well with keeping up with daily life. God bless