Femoral nerve blocks and neuropathic pain.

Question

What is the connection between femoral nerve blocks and subsequent neuropathic pain. I have had two TKR's and had nerve blocks with each. I now have numbness, tingling and frequent pain in both legs. I have seen a neurologist and am now in a pain clinic and am scheduled for a spinal cord stimulator. What are your thoughts for how this may alleviate my situation.

LisaJF · Accepted Answer

Hi and welcome to the forums Charliegal44!

I'm so sorry that you are going through this dreadful neuropathic pain!  I can sincerely empathize with you since I've had that experience myself, although in a different area for 6 months. It was the most painful experience.

Well, as I am sure the pain clinic explained to you, the spinal cord stimulator is an implantable medical device used to treat chronic pain of neurologic origin.  It generates an electric pulse near your spinal cord's dorsal surface, providing a sensation that alters the perception of pain you would feel and is typically used in conjunction with medicine such as Neurontin (it is an anticonvulsant used for seizures but it is also used to reduce pain related responses), Lyrica is another, or sometimes in combination of narcotics.

I hope this helps and good luck!  When are you going to get this done?

Again, welcome to the forums!

Lisa

charliegal44 · Answer

Thanks for all your input.  Unfortunately, I will not be able to try out the spinal cord stimulator as it is very expensive and my insurance will not cover it as they list it as "experimental".  So, I will take the advice of the people at the pain clinic and my neurologist and take more of the gabatentin and continue using lidoderm patches.  I also am increasing exercise on my legs hoping to keep them moving!  I have been told that this condition will not go away so I guess I will need learn how to live with chronic pain.

DrSharma · Answer

Hi there. You could have a nerve damage along with knee replacement, the most common being the peroneal nerve. If it occurs, the affected nerve recovers after 6 to 12 months. It is common for the skin around the knee to feel numb because of the small skin nerves that are cut at surgery though sensations return to normal within few months. The nerve damage could be due to inadvertent injection of local anesthetic and steroid into the nerve instead. These symptoms could also result from poor posture due to poor knee function and consequent lumbar disc prolapsed. A spinal cord stimulator as you must have been briefed is a device used to exert pulsed electrical signals to the spinal cord to control chronic pain. Consult your concerns with your neurologist and this would allay your anxiety. Take care.