numb and burning feet
 

HI, my husband stumbled upon your site and I've been looking around. I really appreciate all of the info that is available here.

I had a Left Total Knee replacement in Dec, 2010. I received a femoral nerve block prior to the surgery. When I woke up, my left foot was numb and I was told it would go away. 4 weeks later my foot was still numb and I started experiencing sharp pains in my foot as well. I went to my Orthopedic surgeon and he said he didn't know what was going on and refered me to a neurologist. I'm told that 1-5% of knee replacement surgery's have nerve complications.

All the while the pain in my foot was becoming more frequent and for longer periods of time and now included intense burning a majority of the time. I saw the neurologist, who initially gave me a script for neurotin of 300mg 3x's a day. It kept getting increased because it wasn't helping and I am now taking 400mg in the morning and 800mg in the afternoon and bedtime. I still don't have a diagnosis yet.

I am still experiencing almost constant burning pain and then sharp pain that comes and goes and then always presents in the early evening as well and doesn't let up for hours and hours. I'm not sleeping and the neurologist gave me a script for ambien which doesn't help at all. I called the neurologist yesterday to update him on my pain condition and asked for more help. I didn't receive a call back so hopefully I will hear from him on monday.

They did an MRI of my knee which showed nothing because of my replacement, they did an xray, extensive bloodwork and I'm having a EMG on wednesday. I have yet to talk to the neurologist of any results. Maybe he will give me some answers on wednesday. I can only hope.

I am getting exhausted from lack of sleep, periods of pain and discomfort and general frustration. I can't do anything it seems. I dread the evenings knowing what is in store for me. My husband wants me to check out a pain clinic and I guess I will look into that if my doctor doesn't give me some more help or relief on monday.

Is there anyone out there who can give me some encouragement, advice or a heads up of what to do or watch for?

thanks alot
Brenda

Hi I am sorry about what you are facing. It is good you are getting the emg on Wed. I know the diagnositic testing is draining but hold to hope that it will give you some answers that will be of course easier to treat. May I aks why you had the total knee replacement was it an injury or fall?I aks because if these tests don't come up with anything you may want to look into RSD. I have both RSD and PN. As for sleep I am a huge mess with that I can go on weeks of 2 hours a night. My pain goes sky high at night plus anxiety. Have you tried any meds to aid in this? I just started ativan which may have helped. Trazadone helped me in the past. I would talk to your doctor about that. I hope Wed goes smooth.