Thread: Post ACL surgery "issues"

Anyone ever experience anything like this post surgery?? It's been 1 year since the accident & it will be 1 year post surgery in April. I don't have to see my ortho anymore and nothing regarding my knee concerns him.....

From my knee down to my foot, it's like a numbness or tingly feeling - especially post-workout. I wasn't sure if these "feelings" are related to adding more exercise (cardio) and just doing more in general.

It's pretty typical to have some numbness/tingly skin from where the nerves were cut for the incision. For some people it heals and feels normal again, others it stays a little funky feeling (tingly when you touch certain spots on your shin) forever.

But I've never noticed it being any different after exercise.

Incisions made to the lateral (5th toe) side of the knee heal without long term numbness.

Incisions on the medial (big toe) side usually have a patch of numbness that lasts.

I recognized this some years ago and alway make all incisions lateral to the midline. Its a little harder and less direct, but I have found this problem is preventable.

Originally Posted by drmark

Incisions made to the lateral (5th toe) side of the knee heal without long term numbness.

Incisions on the medial (big toe) side usually have a patch of numbness that lasts.

I recognized this some years ago and alway make all incisions lateral to the midline. Its a little harder and less direct, but I have found this problem is preventable.

Well it's not a numbness at the incision site (tho I have a little achiness there) - it's more like a numb feeling radiating down my calf......and I'm not sure if "numb" is the right word - it's hard to describe....it is an "off" feeling tho.....

I remember having decreased sensation in the whole medial part of my lower leg for about a year after my first surgery.

Jen, did you have a medial meniscal repair?

Originally Posted by drmark

Jen, did you have a medial meniscal repair?

Negative


I had a tear in my lateral meniscus, but by the time he went in, it had started to heal itself, so he left it alone....

Then you should expect impovement.

yea. I am 1 month post op and the side of my knee tingles. It's weird.

drmark- What is his tingling caused from? Nerve damage due to surgery?

Originally Posted by drmark

Incisions made to the lateral (5th toe) side of the knee heal without long term numbness.

Incisions on the medial (big toe) side usually have a patch of numbness that lasts.

Mine is exactly opposite. I have no issues on the medial side but a decent patch on the lateral side at the top of my shin that I could still stick a needle into without feeling a thing.

The lateral sided issues should get better with passage of time.

On the medial side, the infapatella branch of the saphenous nerve, which is always cut doing medial approach to the knee, commonly causes a painful numbness that last forever.

I am not sure what side of the leg Jen's numbness occurs in. Maybe she can expand on those complaints later.

Dr. Mark, I had acl surgery on my left knee 3 weeks ago. I have a numb patch on the left side of my knee cap. It is annoying but I am far more concerned with my left foot. The top of my foot is numb and feels like pins and needles all of the time. My doctor doesn't seem to think its a big deal and that makes me angry. After doing some research I'm starting to lose hope that it will go back to normal. What do you think? And what questions should I be asking my doctor to make sure we cover every base and I get this fixed. Thank you from a fellow Texan.

That is a partial injury to the peroneal nerve. Its most likely from swelling. GIve it a few months to improve spontaneously.

Dr. Mark I have an issue similar to these....a year ago I had acl surgery w/ a hamstring graft on my left knee and a medial meniscectomy (i had a bucket handle tear).
Now, a year later, I'm having problems and fear my left leg will never be the same! I have developed since the surgery a bunion on my left foot (as well as associated pain and popping in my foot) that seems to be getting worse.
Today, the bottom of my left foot (and top) as well as intermittently my leg from the knee down has been numb and tingly. Its really really annoying and I'm worried about it. I contacted my ortho but thought I'd try here too. What should I do/expect about these issues?

lucy- this is a thread from 2009.