Most people will experience a return in some or part of their sensation. This is probably because the nerve was simply stretched through the surgery. Or other nerves have grown and compensated for the other. If the nerve is purely stretched, experts would suggest that the nerve should recover in 6-12 weeks.
Symptoms of nerve damage include radiating pain, a tingling sensation in the leg and numbness in the leg or foot. Surgeons must cut and stretch skin and muscle during surgery. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons says “pressure, stretching or cutting” can damage nerves in the leg or around the joint.
It is well-known that nerve recovery after damage and nerve regeneration are both very slow processes. While full recovery of nerve sensation may be unlikely, it may take one year or longer for abnormal sensations to recover to their full potential.
While surgeons will take care not to cut or damage large nerves whenever possible, sometimes the peroneal nerve or a branch gets cut during the incision process. A study by the Mayo Clinic found that the saphenous nerve is sometimes inadvertently caught and closed in the incision sutures.
Nerve pain management can be done by administering topical treatments such as transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, lidocaine patches, or capsaicin patches. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation is a non-invasive method where a battery-operated device is connected to electrodes attached to the body.
How do I know the nerve is recovering? As your nerve recovers, the area the nerve supplies may feel quite unpleasant and tingly. This may be accompanied by an electric shock sensation at the level of the growing nerve fibres; the location of this sensation should move as the nerve heals and grows.
Recovery Process
During recovery, exercise is incredibly important not just to help your muscles regain function, but also to increase blood flow throughout your body. This, in turn, speeds nerve healing. Likewise, inactivity slows progress. You don't want to overdo it, but the more you move your muscles, the better.
In cadaveric studies, Mayo Clinic has found that the standard surgical incision used in total knee arthroplasty almost always severs the infrapatellar saphenous nerve. The severed nerve generally doesn't affect the knee's function.
By: Sunil Jani, MD, MS, Orthopedic Surgeon
A full recovery can take 6 months to 1 year or longer. After surgery, efforts are devoted to controlling post-surgical pain, establishing good range of motion, and increasing muscle strength. Once fully recovered, a person typically has less knee pain and better knee function.
Walking. Proper walking is the best way to help your knee recover. At first, you will walk with a walker or crutches. Your surgeon or therapist will tell you how much weight to put on your leg.
Start with small, manageable steps over short distances and use an assistive device whenever needed. Gradually work your way up until you can walk longer distances without discomfort. Doing too much exercise can lead to pain and swelling, hindering your recovery.
Balancing movement with getting enough rest is necessary to heal from knee replacement surgery. For the first few months, you may have some mild-to-moderate swelling of the affected knee. Getting the appropriate rest and keeping your leg elevated, as well as applying ice, can help boost healing time.
Usually, about three weeks after the surgery, you'll be able to walk without crutches for about 10 minutes. Your physical therapist will push you to add more to your regimen. Generally, it takes about a year for everything to settle, the knee to regain its strength, and all normal activities to become possible again.
The biggest challenge in the early recovery of a TKR (up to 3 months postoperative) is the regaining of knee motion.
The most common symptoms of nerve damage after surgery are usually numbness, tingling, burning, muscle weakness or atrophy. Many times the symptoms are temporary, for example, many patients have nerve problems after surgery that only last for a few weeks to months (2,3).
Arthrofibrosis, also known as “stiff knee syndrome,” occurs when excessive scar tissue forms around a joint, limiting range of motion and causing pain and disability. It can be a complication of knee replacement or anterior cruciate ligament surgery, with infections and bleeding as known contributing factors.
Your surgeon and physical therapist will help to set goals as you progress through rehabilitation. It is important to avoid overworking or straining the knee during the recovery period.
Can you sleep on your side after knee replacement surgery? You can, but it's wise not to do so until at least a few weeks after surgery, when you can start bending your knee. Make sure you lay on your non-operative side. Sleeping this way makes sure no pressure falls on the knee you had surgery on.
Kneeling is one of the movements that knee osteoarthritis can increase the difficulty of. So, many people want to know if they'll be able to kneel after their knee replacement surgery. For most patients, the answer is yes.
Symptoms may include any of the following: Sensation changes in the thigh, knee, or leg, such as decreased sensation, numbness, tingling, burning, or pain. Weakness of the knee or leg, including difficulty going up and down stairs -- especially down, with a feeling of the knee giving way or buckling.
Furthermore, with the advent of joint prostheses coated with hydroxyapatite, which work by promoting primary bone formation to fill the gap between the prosthesis and the host bone, the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be counterproductive.
After surgery, some pain is normal. About 30 percent of patients experience moderate pain after a total knee replacement. However, if the pain lasts for several weeks following surgery, it may be a cause for concern.
Magnesium is one of the most essential nutrients in the human body. It plays a vital role in nerve regeneration and functional recovery by reducing the inflammation and causing Schwann cell proliferation at the injury site, which increases axonal recovery.