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What Causes Upper Leg Pain And Lower Calf Numbness After A Knee Surgery?

Posted on Wed, 15 Jun 2016

Question: My son, who is 17, had a bucpivicaine nerve block (on Q pump) in the upper leg for a knee surgery where he had micro fracture with biocartiledge for a patella chondral defect. He is now 4 weeks out and continuing to have stabbing pain he describes as someone stabbing a knife into his leg. Keeps him up all night and is quite miserable. His lower calf is numb and his foot becomes tingling and falls asleep frequently. We had the other knee done a year ago and by this point we were well into healing, off pain meds at 1 week. For this knee, we are 4 weeks out and still needing Vicodin 4 times a day. Will this heal over time? Any medication work better for what I suspect is nerve damage from either the surgery or nerve block catheter? Any non-medicine treatment work for this?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Naveen Kumar Sharma (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
He needs nerve analgesics

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have studied your case. I think he has sustained nerve injury during nerve block. Do not worry as it will going to recover in three to four weeks. I have following suggestions.
1.He need steroids for faster recovery. Give Medrol 8 mg three time daily for three weeks.
2.Tablet pregabalin M one daily.
3.Hot water fomentation.
I hope these steps will be helpful for him. Nerve injuries takes time in healing. it can be up to six weeks to 8 weeks after injury.
thanks

Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar