Numbness After Knee Replacement Surgery
The Outside of My Knee Is Numb After Knee Replacement!
If you've recently had a total knee replacement and noticed a patch of numbness along the outside (lateral side) of your knee, you're not alone. It’ not a sign that anything went wrong. It is very common.
Numbness along the outside of your knee after total knee replacement is one of the most frequent things patients notice during recovery. It is a nuisance symptom that doesn’t affect functioning after the surgery. It's common enough that it is considered an expected part of healing.
Why It Happens
To reach the knee joint during a total knee replacement, the incision must pass through skin, fat, and soft tissue. Running just beneath the skin on the front and inner side of the knee is a small sensory nerve that supplies feeling to the skin over the outside of the knee. It doesn't control movement or joint stability in any way. Its only job is to supply sensation to a patch of skin on the outside of the knee.
Because of where this nerve branch travels, it's difficult to make a knee replacement incision without either stretching, bruising, or cutting some of its small fibers. When those fibers are disrupted, the patch of skin they served loses some or all its feeling.
What the Numb Patch Feels Like
Most patients describe the area as a patch of skin, usually a few inches across, that feels "asleep," dull, or less sensitive to light touch. It's very different from the deeper ache of surgical recovery, and it doesn't interfere with rehabilitation, or functioning.
Does the Numbness Go Away After Knee Replacement?
For many patients, the area of numbness gradually shrinks over the months following surgery as small nerve branches nearby begin to cover some of the affected skin. However, it's also not uncommon for a smaller, permanent patch of numbness to remain indefinitely.
When It's Worth Mentioning to Your Surgeon
You should let your surgical team know if you experience:
A burning, shooting, or electric-type pain in that same area, rather than simple numbness
Numbness that is spreading, worsening, or accompanied by weakness
A tender, painful "knot" at the site of numbness, which can occasionally indicate an irritated nerve ending
These are far less common than simple numbness and are very manageable when they do occur, but they're worth a conversation.
The Bottom Line
Numbness along the outside of the knee after total knee replacement is a well-recognized, expected part of the healing process. It doesn't reflect on the long-term success of your new knee.
If you have questions about symptoms you're experiencing after knee replacement, don't hesitate to reach out to our office — we're happy to talk through what's expected during recovery and what's worth a closer look.
Have questions about your knee replacement recovery? Schedule a visit with Dr. Akinbo, Northwest Kansas’ premier fellowship trained and board-certified joint replacement specialist.