Tingling in foot & leg after TKR

Hi Bonnie-I am sorry to hear that you're in so much pain.  I had awful post op pain and then the tingling. It lasted quite a while but has slowly, very slowly resolved.  I tried to exercise as much as possible to get stronger and did foot stretches and flexes.  It seems to take forever, but it does improve.  Good luck! 

Laverne,

I have the same thing and my feet are swollen.  My knee still hurts inside and the surgeon and PA could care less! Especially when you are told that you will be fine in three weeks.  Worthless anesthesiologist as he used Caine when I said I was allergic.  Put me in rehab, they overdosed me on opiods and lucky to be alive.  

Hi Carol 

It appears from reading many posts on here that all kinds of sensations and all levels of pain can follow after a TKR

I am now 7 weeks PO and for the last 5 weeks have suffered aches and pains in my ankle and foot plus tingling and burning nerves in my calf and shin, but only on my operated led not both.

There's enough information on line to answer just about any medical question you want to know, but when  you read about doctors and surgeons disagreeing about a diagnosis or prognosis makes you wonder what you're reading is correct.

That's why I think the information posted by members who have actually experienced the aftermath of surgery can give a more accurate account of what to expect.

The trouble is everyone can experience many different symptoms following a similar operation and the same applies to the recovery rate so in it can become a lottery.

However when you say you have neuropathy in both feet it begs the question did you have a spinal block before surgery?

  

hi David,

No spinal block but they used Caine on me and I am allergic to it and it set me back as I had surgery on Dec 5th and was sent to rehab to die due to the Caine I did not know who I was nor did I wake up until Dec 12.  The rehab overdosed me with opiods and sent me to the ER and then back to same rehab and they would not let me out until Dec 18th.  The doctors when they did the surgery rotated my pelvis and my leg was turned out to the right causing extreme dizziness and tight psoas muscles. Chiro adjusted me and going to PT and getting massages.  Also cryotherapy.  A lot of this at my cost as I told doctor yesterday that my knee really hurt inside and they said that could continue for a year but they advertise  3 week turn around! 

Hi Carol

I'm guessing you are in the states because I've never heard of using cocaine as an anesthetic in the UK.

Tight psoas muscles could be the result of manoeuvring the femur during surgery but I don't understand why you received cryotherapy, where and at what stage of your treatment  was it applied because that could be the reason for the neuropathy in both your feet.

 

David,

I am in Texas.  They used lidocaine which I am allergic to.  The cryotherapy did not cause the neuropathy as I had it when I woke up from the surgery.  I go to cryotherapy to stop the inflammation in my nerves and knee.  Did it when I had a torn meniscus  in my knees and it really helped me get better fast.  Still a lot of knee pain 

I am 5 years out and still have nerve pain in leg and foot. Also only achieved a 90 degree Bend. Surgeon said it was scar tissue. Never admitted nerve damage during TKR. I live with it. Not sure anything can be done.

Hi Glen 

Three weeks after my TKR I told my PT about the pins and needles I was experiencing in my leg and he said it would dissipate in a couple of weeks.

By the time I had my first appointment (7 weeks PO) with my surgeon  it had developed into severe nerve pain and he immediately ordered an MRI scan of my lower back.

In the mean time my GP has prescribed neurontin gabapentin which certainly helps, but its only a temporary relief, its not a cure.

I had my MRI scan a few days ago and I'm seeing my surgeon again in two days time for the results

I cant help thinking the problem has something to do with the spinal block I had before surgery so I'm not looking forward to the outcome.

I cant imagine putting up with this for another five months let alone five years, that's a long time Glen

Are you sure there's nothing can be done, I would consult a nerve specialist  if you haven't already done so.

I find it strange that several posts on here have noted similar symptoms but none have had a scan, anyway I will update the results of my MRI and prognosis if there is one in a couple of days,  

 

Glen

My surgeon tells me the MRI shows a misalignment in my spine, so jokingly I said you must have given my knee one hell of a thump to dislodge a vertebra. He did manage a smile but made no comment.

I am now waiting to see a back specialist, at least my knee is doing okay, I've just been signed off by my  PT,

Will let you know what the outcome is with my back  

David,

The back and knee are totally connected.  I have the same exact problems you are experiencing.  Just got pain shots.  Work on doing upper body exercises to bring back into alignment and it is now stopping my foot tingling and I actually have had a few pain free days until I work out or do too much. If you can swim go do it.  I plan on swimming as soon as the cold weather is gone.  Try this to get better.  Doing light upper body weights really has helped me bring my spine into alignment as the psoas muscle becomes tight and this will cause knee pain.

Carol

Sounds like you're doing okay with your upper body exercises, was it a back specialist that suggested this and did he/she say that exercise would eventually cure the nerve pain.

I have yet to see anyone about my back and I hope exercise will be the answer and not surgery.

At the moment I'm taking Gabapentin prescribed by my doctor which does help with the nerves but I imagine it would not suit everyone as the side effects are quite scary. 

So annoying when the TKR went so well and then complications with the nerves make it difficult to progress and enjoy pain free movement

David,

The Doctor is actually right. I take the same meds you are taking and it helps me tremendously.  Right now I slept on heating pad for low back as it is the culprit causing all the pain. You can do upper back exercises at home even without weights.  I have exercised my whole life so I have the routine down.  If you don’t do upper body exercises I started having muscle wasting.

Hi Carol

Its been 3 weeks now since my surgeon referred me to a back specialist and as yet not a dicky bird.

I'm sure he's working his butt off but it would be nice to know where I'm at

Anyway as you know this thread was started 3 years ago and over that time there has been a lot of response from members suffering nerve pain following a TKR 

It would be great if all you guys who responded or anyone else who's had problems could let us know how you're getting on now.  

DAvid,

Haven’t heard from you but am assuming your foot tingling is gone.  I no longer have it after pain shot by back doctor.

Carol

Sorry about the delay in replying. Its now been 5 weeks since referral to a back specialist and not a dicky bird. I'm beginning to wonder if I'm actually on his list. I did send an email a few days back with no response. There has been no improvement with the nerve pain its more or less constant 24/7 worse in the afternoons and evenings when my calf muscle goes into spasm and pain shoots through my ankle into my foot. When the surgeon who did the TKR checked my MRI scan I thought he was a bit quick off the mark referring me immediately to a back specialist but as the weeks go by I'm beginning to agree with him. The reason I say this is because the pain is a lot less in the mornings after my 16 stone has not compressed my vertebra for a few hours.

I will let you know if and when anything materialises, maybe a pain shot like you had is what I need.

I think I've already said I'm from the UK anyway we have snow here, a lot of snow, the first time in years, Ironic really because two weeks ago my daughter booked a trip to Sweden just so my granddaughter who's never seen snow could experience the ruddy stuff for the first time.

At least she now knows what to expect, as for me and the missus we're off to Gran Canaria to get a few rays, You never know stretching out on a sun bed may do my leg the world of good and if that don't work there's always the cocktail bar to fall back on (literally). 

Oops,  Sounds like anything goes in Texas which is okay by me but you must behave yourself Carol when you're in public.

?Love to know what you said that was so offensive, shame you can't repeat it. 

David:  I was talking about a online alternative product not FDA approved for energy and pain. I tried it nothing happened. Gosh everything is legal in US.   I am a health freak for over 46 years never even smoked a day in my life.   Only drink a red wine to be social .  Eat vegan, no eggs but eat fish.  Breakfast was flax seed, hemp seed in nonfat yogurt with teecino Coffee.  I can tell you I went to yoga today and putting a block under my back did make MyNetDiary big toe tingle.  So I know that the tingling is definitely from my back.  Getting a rhizotomy on Friday for right L3-L4 and left two weeks later.  I will let you know if this helps my knee.  Have a great day! Carol

DAvid: there should be a place on this website that lists all of our other health ailments.  I have hypogammaglobulinemia, cryoglobulinemia, c677t. A genetic defect, esonophenalia and MGUS.  All of these autoimmune health related diseases cause me to not be able to have any type of pain medication and over 500+ prescription medications.  I am alllergic to so much food and fungus, , polllen,  dust and chemicals in food and cleaning, cosmetic supplies.  So trying something that is an alternative therapy has kept me alive and able to function normally on a daily basis that might help someone is removed?   I have to take offense when an alternative product mentioned caused my web note to be cancelled.  I was a physician Assistant for over 17 years and it took an alternative doctor to find my illness. I use many alternative products an essential oils used in western medicine.  I have gone to so many specialists and even with blood work showing my illness, these doctors can’t believe I am sick.  This is my fault because I really live an extremely healthy lifestyle and exercise.   Sick for me does not define who I am therefore, doctors overlook my illness. So hopefully this clarifies where I am coming from with my health.

Wow Carol, You've certainly been through the wars, have you ever considered writing a book?, 

My problems pale against yours, so I shouldn't complain, but just for the record both my ankles swelled up and became very painful a couple of nights ago. I managed to get into urgent care the next morning but of course by then the swelling had gone down. I asked whether this was caused by the 9 Gabapentin tablets I take daily or was it the nerve pain getting worse, the doc didn't have a clue.

So I tried reducing the Gabapentin tablets down to 3 per day and there's been a big improvement.

Fingers crossed it won't flair up again as I'm concerned it may stop me from using the car which I need to regularly visit my mother  who turned a hundred last year.  

David:

Swollen ankles I would be checking your heart.  If you keep your knee up, when you sit down and ankles are still swollen, most likely heart.  I would really keep a good check on it.  If you don’t get to the doctor when the swelling is way up, your heart rate can return to normal as the swelling subsided and now days, frankly, if we are over 65 in the US, they could care less if you live or die!  I have a friend in my yoga class who has a 40 year old son with spinabifida and he had been to every doctor imaginable and he was suffering from severe IBS w/diarrhea.  I asked her what did he eat?  She said he loved bread, potatoes and crackers.  I told her that the food he was eating was killing him and he needed to change his diet.  I told her to put him on a Food map diet.  I just seen her this week and she said her son is getting energy, stopped all foods with yeast in them and has no health issues.  I told her he needed to be using peppermint essential oil daily.  She said no doctor even gastroenterologist asked about diet but just gave her son medicine to stop his diarrhea.  You need to look at your diet, drinking more water than usual? Eating anything different? Sitting more, not walking at least once an hour? Taking anyother new medications?  The med you are taking is not known to cause swelling of ankles but at high doses with a combination of other medication, it could be affecting your heart. Since you did not have these symptoms before, take note of everything affecting your body, heart thumping when laying down, heart racing, chest tightness, slower than normal breathing, arm or neck, shoulder pain.  When pain becomes chronic, it can affect your heart, raise your BP and cause a heart attack or stroke.  Look for any abnormal small signs as many people have signs but never recognize them until it’s too late.  I only take two pills per day, I weigh 125 so take your weight and determine if you are taking 6 pills is a high dose.  Very rare for it to cause swollen ankles but more common to cause hallucinations at that amount.  I am lucky as I am out today digging out a dead honeysuckle bush. Started cutting back holly bushes and cleaning up my front patio and pulling weeds.  I want to get back out there again tomorrow.  I am 69 years old and I love  to work in my yard which has so much overgrowth of bushes.  I planted everything over ten years ago and everything grew like weeds.  I screwed up my neck lifting too much weight so with Spring being here in Texas, I am on a mission to work on my landscaping.  My mom died at 90 two years ago and I miss her everyday so I pray you stay in shape so you can spend time with your Mom while she is here.  Not being able to drive just about killed me but I only drive short distances still as it bothers my knee.  3 months out now and it is better but far from cured.  I think I hurt less before the surgery with the exception of bones cracking together.  All of my health issues I am sure keep it from healing fast.  I talked to a guy who is 78 last Saturday night and he told me his first knee was good at three months, his second knee took a year even with daily workouts for the knee.   He still works out because it helps his body.  Well take care of yourself, listen to your body, and have a great weekend. Carol

Carol

Thanks for your advice but I raised the question regarding ankles swelling whilst taking Gapapentin and found 59 positive posts on another website. Since I reduced my intake from 9 to 3 tablets per day I've had no further problems.After today I might come off them altogether and see how it goes. I know what you mean about the garden taking over but I imagine you have a lot more acreage than my little old plot in England. But the up side is we have the New Forest's wide open spaces and the ocean on our doorstep.When I was your age I was swanning around the Solent in my power boat, the last thing I was thinking about was knee operations. Why I didn't join the Navy when I had the opportunity  I shall never know, I'd be sitting pretty now with a nice fat pension 

I've been in the same house with the same wife for nearly fifty years and I got no regrets, (God knows how she's survived)

Like your friend I too had no problems with the knee at 3 months post op, its just this ruddy nerve pain that's getting me down, the other knee really needs sorting out as it stops me doing lots of jobs around the house, I'm sure the wife thinks I'm faking it. Getting on and off a sun bed when we're in the Canaries next week will be a challenge, no doubt I'll find a couple of good looking lasses to help out,

Don't go overdoing things in the garden Carol, you know what they say about all work and no play.        

 

David,

seeing doctor tomorrow. Since stepping up living my toe tingling is back and muscle on side of hip hurts.  You can only progress as fast as your knee leg foot wants to go!  Getting WBC count checked to make sure it is back to normal or try to fiqure out how Medicare will pay for needed medication. So upset, swimming starting tomorrow, giving this leg knee a workout no matter how cold it is.  Hope you are getting better. Friday, I don’t care if I am hurting, working in my yard again! If none of this works, back to cryotherapy!  Nothing is stopping me!