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Has anyone had a tight band feeling after total knee replacement?

Posted by mhort1213 @mhort1213, Feb 28, 2019

I am 8 weeks post TKR and have had this very tight band around my knee since week one. My Dr at 6 wks says it is normal and will go away. Has anyone else had this and did it go away and when?

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scgraham | @scgraham | Apr 19, 2019
In reply to @medinafive "I have been having this very same issue. My first and left knee was done October..." + (show)
@medinafive

I have been having this very same issue. My first and left knee was done October 2018.. I have had this tight, rubber band sqeezing sensation since the numbness went away. Surgical numbness.. I still have numbness around that knee. It doesn't hurt but drives me nuts at times.. It hasn't changed in severity either. It's been 6 months now and I am over it. I am considering dry needling to see if can loosen up whatever is causing this sensation. My physician also says it will go away some day. I had my right knee done in December 2018.. it feels more normal.. no tightness post op. I would appreciate and advice help.. My range of motion is excellent in both knees. Thank you

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@medinafive I have had this feeling since my TKR in Oct 2017. Went through 4 months of PT, astym and dry needling. I have great ROM but still have this tight band compression feeling just below my knee and lower leg. I have never received any explanation for this, from my surgeon or from this website, other than it might go away or it may not. Praying that you find an answer. So sorry this has afflicted you too.

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2 replies
lizzyisme | @lizzyisme | Apr 19, 2019

It’s been almost 1 year since my Tkr on right knee. I too feel tightness, phantom pain at times as though knee being strangled. No answers as to why this is so.

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1 reply
Debbra Williams, Alumna Mentor | @debbraw | Apr 20, 2019
In reply to @medinafive "I have been having this very same issue. My first and left knee was done October..." + (show)
@medinafive

I have been having this very same issue. My first and left knee was done October 2018.. I have had this tight, rubber band sqeezing sensation since the numbness went away. Surgical numbness.. I still have numbness around that knee. It doesn't hurt but drives me nuts at times.. It hasn't changed in severity either. It's been 6 months now and I am over it. I am considering dry needling to see if can loosen up whatever is causing this sensation. My physician also says it will go away some day. I had my right knee done in December 2018.. it feels more normal.. no tightness post op. I would appreciate and advice help.. My range of motion is excellent in both knees. Thank you

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@medinafive - Welcome to Connect! I've had two TKRs but thankful did not have that tightening sensation with either one. I see you are already getting good responses from people who know what it's like! You said you were considering dry needling - have you already been doing acupuncture to get relief? That was helpful to me. I'm 12 weeks out and I'm still doing acupuncture once a month.

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medinafive | @medinafive | Apr 23, 2019
In reply to @scgraham "@medinafive I have had this feeling since my TKR in Oct 2017. Went through 4 months..." + (show)
@scgraham

@medinafive I have had this feeling since my TKR in Oct 2017. Went through 4 months of PT, astym and dry needling. I have great ROM but still have this tight band compression feeling just below my knee and lower leg. I have never received any explanation for this, from my surgeon or from this website, other than it might go away or it may not. Praying that you find an answer. So sorry this has afflicted you too.

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Thank you for your reply.. it's such a strange feeling, it doesn't hurt it's just there.. only when walking, standing etc. It's nice to know I'm not alone in this...

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medinafive | @medinafive | Apr 23, 2019
In reply to @scgraham "@medinafive I have had this feeling since my TKR in Oct 2017. Went through 4 months..." + (show)
@scgraham

@medinafive I have had this feeling since my TKR in Oct 2017. Went through 4 months of PT, astym and dry needling. I have great ROM but still have this tight band compression feeling just below my knee and lower leg. I have never received any explanation for this, from my surgeon or from this website, other than it might go away or it may not. Praying that you find an answer. So sorry this has afflicted you too.

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Dang, that's a long time... I hope your goes away too.. such a strange thing with no answers to why? Good luck

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medinafive | @medinafive | Apr 23, 2019
In reply to @lizzyisme "It’s been almost 1 year since my Tkr on right knee. I too feel tightness, phantom..." + (show)
@lizzyisme

It’s been almost 1 year since my Tkr on right knee. I too feel tightness, phantom pain at times as though knee being strangled. No answers as to why this is so.

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Oh man, a year? I think I will be driven nuts by then... I guess we learn to live with it. I don't have any pain.. I hope you can find some relief.

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1 reply
ibfinetwo | @ibfinetwo | Apr 26, 2019

I am 3 1/2 weeks post Tkr and I have that same feeling. It does ease up occasionally and was told that it will eventually let up. Let’s hope so...

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1 reply
mhort1213 | @mhort1213 | Apr 27, 2019
In reply to @ibfinetwo "I am 3 1/2 weeks post Tkr and I have that same feeling. It does ease..." + (show)
@ibfinetwo

I am 3 1/2 weeks post Tkr and I have that same feeling. It does ease up occasionally and was told that it will eventually let up. Let’s hope so...

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I'm 16 weeks post tkr and still have tight band which I think might be from fluid around the knee which doesn't seem to go away. My Dr. Is hopeful it will go away in time. I hope he's right.

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2 replies
debbie64131 | @debbie64131 | May 19, 2019
In reply to @scgraham "I am 19 months post TKR surgery. The surgery went well. I have great ROM. But,..." + (show)
@scgraham

I am 19 months post TKR surgery. The surgery went well. I have great ROM. But, from the beginning I have had a tight band feeling just under my knee, and a compressed feeling in my calf muscle. Feels like I have on the tightest knee sock imaginable with a tourniquet for a top band. I was prescribed gabapentin, didn’t help. I went through PT 3x trying different things to treat this, including astym and dry needling. I still have bruised areas on my leg and it’s been 7 months since the last session. My surgeon and PT have not been able to explain the what or why of this phenomenon. But was told at my one year appointment that there was a good chance I would just have to live with this. It takes a great deal of mental energy to rise above this pain to have a productive day. I am a 65 yr old female. Anyone else out there have any information or tips for dealing with this?

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I feel for you! I am almost 16 weeks & had a total manipulation 2 weeks ago. The tight band feeling left for only 2 days after my manipulation . I still go to PT & have pain all the time. Water therapy feels great but I can’t live in the pool. My doctor said the scar tissue may or may not go away. I just wish I would have known some things before I had this done!

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1 reply
katclub | @katclub | May 19, 2019

I wish I knew a lot of things before my tkr.
Instead of a class before, hospitals should have an after surgery class!

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