Posted , 5 users are following.
Hi, there. 2 months after my tkr, anyone have advice or medicine or topical lotion for leg nerve pain? My feet were numb & leg was numb last night. I may have walked a bit much...thank you
2 likes, 5 replies
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sue64229 dawn220
Posted
I had bilateral tkr’s 2 yrs go and have nerve pain in my feet. I take Gabapentin/Lyrica And it seems to help. There are so many hiccups to get over the op but we all get there in the end. Talk to your doctor. Don’t suffer.
Best wishes
Sue x
CHICO_MARX dawn220
Posted
Leg pain is one thing (Voltaren Gel...great topical anti-inflammatory, RX in the US...check for side effects and interactions). Leg NERVE pain is quite different. That could be caused by a number of factors like sciatica which is not uncommon in TKR patients as we change our gait to avoid pain, misalign something in our hips or pelvis and pinch a nerve. My case came on at 5 weeks; fixed with a chiropractor.
"Overdoing it" one day can also bring this on...usually accompanied by a swollen knee. If that's the case, the symptoms will subside in 24-48 hours. Ice, elevate, take your meds. If it doesn't alleviate and it persists, don't aggravate it and see your doc. The only "topical" that I have found for nerve pain is AsperCream with 4% Lidocaine or Lidocaine patches. I strictly avoid the nerve meds like Gabapentin (Neurontin) and Lyrica because of the outrageous side effects. You never want to go that route for something temporary.
Snoozy69 dawn220
Posted
My doctor prescribed amytripyline to take at night and it worked for me. I've not experienced any side effects but I have heard that it can cause weight gain
CHICO_MARX Snoozy69
Posted
Meh...some experience it, others don't. Also depends on the dosage. Amitriptyline is really an anti-depressant so using it just for sleep may not be the best med choice. I have Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) and I tried a few meds for it. Doc settled on 1 mg Xanax (Alprazolam) to just relax those nerves at night and help me get to sleep. Yes, it's a benzodiazapine (like Valium) but 1 mg is really a minor dose with a 4-hour half-life that has no addictive qualities, at least in me, at that level. Another benzo with longer acting properties (longer, 36-hour half-life) is Klonapin. Again, a minor dose to get to sleep and stay that way. I tried Ambien and some others...found myself in the kitchen at 3 am cooking bacon ASLEEP!!! Never again...
Other things to try for sleep...
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/trouble-sleeping-post-tkr--539591
Diphenhydramine (generic Benadryl and the ingredient in all the PM meds...the generic is really cheap) is an anti-histamine that makes you drowsy. Two tabs or caps (50mg) 1 hour before bed, turn off all electronics and read. Try that.
james99232 dawn220
Posted