Hi, what you describe makes a lot of sense. The pain takes time to fade and it also takes time for the feeling to return to what it was before. It took me several weeks to feel better. I recommend that you try to go for physical therapy after the surgery, balance your diabetes and stop smoking, all of these will help to recover faster from the surgery and improve your feeling. Did you go to the doctor for a check-up after surgery and tell him the things you feel? He may also have other solutions.