Conversation: The conversation between human and AI assistant.
[|Human|] Good morning, I am a 53 year old female. I had a left total knee replacement 11/15/2013. I woke up with a left numb foot . Totally numb on bottom and I cannot curl toes forward. Rehab on knee great--meaning the knee has 110% extension and is painful but not more than the ordinary pain from rehab. The problem is the foot! Excruciating pain like I am walking on a frozen piece of jagged stone with a tight band-like sensation around ankle. I had an EMG on 12/27/2014. It was concluded that yes indeed I have a neuropayhy on bottom of foot. The physician that performed the EMG indicated the condition was temporary.Meanwhile,pain is not getting any better and has progressed to both legs and hands---my hands are tingly as if falling asleep--is it normal for a neuropathy in foot to spread out to other areas? And also , HOW does the EMG show condition being temporary OR permanent..I am really really frustrated going in for a TKR and coming out with a much more painful condition..
[|AI|]  Dear patient foot numbness and decreased movements after total knee replacement surgery most probably is due to injury to common prone all nerve at head of fibula. If this had happened after tar surgery it cannot spread to other limbs. BUT if you are diabetic Mellitus patient long term complication can be peripheral neuropathy. Complete EMG NCV study of left lower limb is required to confirm diagnosis. Nerve injury is of three types and EMG NCV can differentiate between them.  Type 3 injury also known as axonotmesis has poor prognosis and usually permeant. Hence EMG NCV can be used as prognostic factor. If there are 4 years post surgery with no recovery there are little chances of improvement. You need to consult plastic surgeon and ask for muscle transfer procedure to gain movements. Thanks.