Why Is My Knee Numb After Knee Replacement? An Orthopedic Surgeon Explains
Description: Numbness After Knee Replacement: What Causes It and Will It Go Away? #shorts
It's a common question that comes up after surgery: "Why is the skin on the outside of my knee numb?" It is a normal finding, and the answer is in the anatomy. A small sensory nerve, the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve, runs across the front of the knee from the inner side toward the outer side. Any incision that exposes the knee joint crosses the path of these fine skin nerves. Whether the approach is midline, medial parapatellar, or subvastus, some of these branches are divided. There is no practical way to replace a knee and fully preserve them. #kneereplacement
The result can be a patch of reduced or absent feeling, usually on the outer side of the incision. Here is what to expect: It affects sensation, not strength. These nerves carry feeling only. They do not control muscles, so numbness does not weaken the knee or limit how the new joint functions. Recovery is often gradual. Nerve regeneration is slow, and improvement can continue for many months. For most patients the numb area shrinks over time, though some altered sensation often remains permanently.
Protect the skin. Numb skin cannot warn you about heat. Never fall asleep on a heating pad or hot water bottle, and check the area often when using heat or ice. Numbness after knee replacement is expected, manageable, and rarely affects the outcome. Knowing what to expect makes all the difference.
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𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗬 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗘, 𝗠𝗗 | Orthopedic Surgeon · Franklin/Nashville, Tennessee
🌐 https://corycalendinemd.com
📅 Free joint replacement guide: https://corycalendinemd.com/free-joint-replacement-guide/
🌐 See Dr. Calendine in your Google & AI search results: https://corycalendinemd.com/preferred
📍 Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee · 3000 Edward Curd Lane, Franklin, TN 37067
📞 (615) 791-2630
About Dr. Cory Calendine, MD - 3000 Edward Curd Lane, Franklin, TN 37067
In the operating room, I get to perform more than 700 hip & knee replacement surgeries each year. From LIVE surgical demos to viral video highlights, together let's explore - react - discuss all things related to bone and joint health. #orthopedicsurgeon #jointreplacement
THANK YOU for your comments, questions and suggestions. If there’s a medical topic or question you want me to discuss, please comment below. We are building a library of orthopedic medical video content focused on your requests and responses.
📽️ Watch latest hip & knee surgery videos ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtuCgnGoZNPFvJ2EzRZNHgw/videos
𝐋𝐄𝐓'𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐂𝐓:
TikTok ▶️ https://www.tiktok.com/@corycalendinemd
LinkTree ▶️ https://linktr.ee/corycalendinemd
𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐈𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐒:
Opinions expressed are solely my own and do not express the views or opinions of my employer. Information in this video is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis and/or treatment. All content [images, digital graphics, text, and other information] contained in this video is for general information purposes only and does not replace or substitute for a consultation with a qualified physician or health professional. Close description
It's a common question that comes up after surgery: "Why is the skin on the outside of my knee numb?" It is a normal finding, and the answer is in the anatomy. A small sensory nerve, the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve, runs across the front of the knee from the inner side toward the outer side. Any incision that exposes the knee joint crosses the path of these fine skin nerves. Whether the approach is midline, medial parapatellar, or subvastus, some of these branches are divided. There is no practical way to replace a knee and fully preserve them. #kneereplacement
The result can be a patch of reduced or absent feeling, usually on the outer side of the incision. Here is what to expect: It affects sensation, not strength. These nerves carry feeling only. They do not control muscles, so numbness does not weaken the knee or limit how the new joint functions. Recovery is often gradual. Nerve regeneration is slow, and improvement can continue for many months. For most patients the numb area shrinks over time, though some altered sensation often remains permanently.
Protect the skin. Numb skin cannot warn you about heat. Never fall asleep on a heating pad or hot water bottle, and check the area often when using heat or ice. Numbness after knee replacement is expected, manageable, and rarely affects the outcome. Knowing what to expect makes all the difference.
SHARE your #Kneenumbness experience
.
📲 SUBSCRIBE NOW for new #surgery videos
𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗬 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗘, 𝗠𝗗 | Orthopedic Surgeon · Franklin/Nashville, Tennessee
🌐 https://corycalendinemd.com
📅 Free joint replacement guide: https://corycalendinemd.com/free-joint-replacement-guide/
🌐 See Dr. Calendine in your Google & AI search results: https://corycalendinemd.com/preferred
📍 Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee · 3000 Edward Curd Lane, Franklin, TN 37067
📞 (615) 791-2630
About Dr. Cory Calendine, MD - 3000 Edward Curd Lane, Franklin, TN 37067
In the operating room, I get to perform more than 700 hip & knee replacement surgeries each year. From LIVE surgical demos to viral video highlights, together let's explore - react - discuss all things related to bone and joint health. #orthopedicsurgeon #jointreplacement
THANK YOU for your comments, questions and suggestions. If there’s a medical topic or question you want me to discuss, please comment below. We are building a library of orthopedic medical video content focused on your requests and responses.
📽️ Watch latest hip & knee surgery videos ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtuCgnGoZNPFvJ2EzRZNHgw/videos
𝐋𝐄𝐓'𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐂𝐓:
TikTok ▶️ https://www.tiktok.com/@corycalendinemd
LinkTree ▶️ https://linktr.ee/corycalendinemd
𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐈𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐒:
Opinions expressed are solely my own and do not express the views or opinions of my employer. Information in this video is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis and/or treatment. All content [images, digital graphics, text, and other information] contained in this video is for general information purposes only and does not replace or substitute for a consultation with a qualified physician or health professional. Close description
