Hi eveyone. I'm new to neurotalk. I'm looking for anyone with periferal neuropathy in their feet who have then had knee replacement. I wonder if the knee surgery had any effect on the neuropathy.

My PN is from chemo that I had in '06 for ovaian cancer. Now I'd like to have both knees replaced but I have reservations because of this question. The doctors say it won't affect it but I'd like some grass roots info. I was also told that the chemo probably would not cause permanent neuropathy. So I guess you could call me a "doubting Thomas".

My symptoms are that my feet feel cold almost all the time, combined with some numbness and tingling. However, the coldness is what bothers me most. Sometimes I have something like restless feet syndrome, where I just have to change position or move around. For example, I cannot stand to lie in bed on my back with my feet pointing up or to sit in a recliner with my feet pointing up. Also, after sitting for sometime, I get it and have to get up and move around.

Thanks very much for any help you can give. I've been asking around and just can't find anyone with these two situations. A friend helped me find this site and I think it's a great thing, if it works. Hopefully it will.

Welcome to NeuroTalk:

I'd try and increase circulation to your feet. This can be tried by soaking in epsom salts twice a day using 4oz to a pan of lukewarm water for at least 20-30 minutes.

Magnesium improves blood flow by relaxing blood vessels. It also blocks the NMDA pain receptors that send pain signals.

Cancer and chemo may damage the dorsal roots along your spine. They are listed as culprits for nerve damage there.
It is pretty well known that acetyl carnitine helps prevent Chemo damage for some people, and it is a bit late for you...but I'd try it anyway. 500mg a day in divided doses to start and increase weekly to 2 grams (2000mg).

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22271810

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17696592

Acetyl carnitine helps with mitochondrial damage to the nerve cells.

The magnesium soaks will help with your restless feelings in the legs as well. As the soaks start to work, opening up the blood vessels, you can add in oral magnesium supplements (avoid OXIDE form as it doesn't get absorbed).

See how this works in the first month.

Welcome to Neuro Talk. Hope you find alot of information here. Just make sure you get more than one opinion before you do your surgery. I wish you all the best, and that you have a good resolution. ginnie

Welcome Skippy. There is a lot of great information here. So many things that most doctors don't bother to learn. Glad you are here.

I've had pn since 1999. I had a knee replacement in 2008, and esophagus and gall bladder surgeries since then. It's been my experience that doctors always prescribe fluoroquinolones to prevent infection following surgery, even if you tell them about your neuropathy and that this family of antibiotics will make it worse. The last time I had surgery the doctor told me that I didn't give him much of a choice as far as drugs to prevent infection after surgery.

The only drugs I take at present are synthroid and eye drops for glaucoma; however, I take all the recommended supplements because I have the burning/cold feet all the time. I also have eliminated sugar from my diet. I use the magnesium lotion that Mrs D recommends on the inside of my arms and on my ankles at night. Actually, I get along pretty well in spite of the burning/cold feet, and count my blessings that I can take a daily 20-30 minute walk around the park every day.

I would wait as long as possible to have knee surgery cuz there's no replacement that works as well as the one you were born with! However, when you get that bone-on-bone pain, I know you'll do about anything to stop it. Just be sure you follow through and do all the exercises following surgery cuz you don't want a stiff knee! Good luck.

Joan

[QUOTE=Joano;920991]I've had pn since 1999. I had a knee replacement in 2008, and esophagus and gall bladder surgeries since then. It's been my experience that doctors always prescribe fluoroquinolones to prevent infection following surgery, even if you tell them about your neuropathy and that this family of antibiotics will make it worse. The last time I had surgery the doctor told me that I didn't give him much of a choice as far as drugs to prevent infection after surgery.

Hi Joan, Thanks for your reply. You're the first person I've found with feet neuropathy who's had knee replacement. I've gone to cancer suppot groups, asked my doctor, asked all kinds of people and finally was led to this site. I'm so happy to get to communicate with you. (It took me awhile to learn how to respond to you on this site) The main thing I want to know is if the knee replacement made your neuropathy any worse? However I appreciate all the other info too. What caused your neuropathy? Mine was from chemotherapy. I'm not afraid of the knee replacement as I know so many people who've had it with good results. But they don't have neuropathy. Any info willbe greatly appreciated. I'd like to find several people with these same situations but you're the only one so far. Do you think I should just post my question again? I'm interested in the info about the antibiotics that affect neuropathy that you wrote of too. Sounds like your knee replacement wasn't too helpful. I'm sorry about that. Maybe you could try a revision. But as you said, thank God you can walk in the park each day. Good luck and I'll look forward to your reply. Skippyfeet.

I see you have figured out how to reply....
There is only one more hurdle....you are cutting out the ending quote tag --it looks like this: [/quote]

You need to leave that in, so your words will be separated from those you are quoting. The ending quote tag should show up at the end of the words you are quoting.

I'd also suggest you read our subforum. One thread about supplements addresses chemo induced nerve damage.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread121683.html

Acetyl carnitine is explained there, and has been used for chemo induced neuropathy. You are somewhat late, but I'd try it anyway.

I do consider my knee replacement a success--I was down to bone-on-bone, my knee slipped all the time, and I was always afraid of falling. Now I never give it a thought when I walk. I do like to hold onto a railing when going up and down stairs, but I'm satisfied with the results. The knee doesn't work as well as the original--getting up from the floor is a real problem--but I had to do something. I had the series of 3 injections twice, and they didn't help me.

Now about the neuropathy--I originally thought it was caused by taking Lipitor. It didn't start right away after I took the Lipitor and I never thought it was the cause until my daughter-in-law sent me an article from The Peoples Pharmacy about it causing pn. Now, after reading this forum for so long, I'm not sure because I'm also hypothyroid, and also have scoliosis so those two things could cause pn too.

I don't want to take any of the meds they're using now cuz I've had bad luck with drugs--the Lipitor and also fosamax. I'd rather watch my diet (eliminate sugar, night shade vegetables) and take the recommended supplements, use the magnesium lotion at night, etc. I really don't care what caused it any more.

I don't think my pn is worse after the knee replacement. You could ask your doctor what he prescribes post surgery to prevent infection. Maybe he will work with you, and maybe Mrs.D could recommend a different antibiotic for you to talk to him about using.

Joan

Hi Joan, Thanks for the reply. I'm glad to hear the knee replacement didn't make your neuropathy any worse and glad you think the knee relacement was a success-Both ae encouraging for me. Skippyfeet.

Glad to hear your knee replacement worked. That is hope for others that have this problem. Thanks for posting and letting us know all this information. I have heard certain meds. cause PN. I am listening! Ginnie