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

I fist posted in this therad back in March. First knee was done in Oct. 2018, second one in Dec. 2018. I still have the tight band feeling in my first knee. It doesn't hurt but is annoying. I have found nothing that helps. I work in the medical field and in fact work at a surgery center among the staff that did my knees. I have read through this entire thread and no where have I seen anything about nerve damage. I am thinking that is what happened to me. My doctor won't admit it, but what else could it be? I understand I am still in my first year of recovery, but not having this feeling in my second knee tells me this could be the answer since nothing helps. I find during work that I don't notice it, I am on my feet all day in a surgery center. Anyhow.. I just thought I would update my progress. Thanks ahead for any resposes.

@medinafive thank you for your update. I posted last spring too. My right knee was replaced Oct 2017, and I have had the tight band feeling from the beginning with no improvement, and no answers. Since the time I last posted, I have tried CBD oil (waste of money), any type of so-called pain relieving creams my friends wanted me to try (didn’t help), a chiropractor and massage therapist.

At least the chiropractor will talk to me about my experience, which is validating. At the orthopedic center, if I bring this subject up during a routine visit, all I hear is crickets, fumbling around and the subject quickly changed. I, too, am convinced this is some kind of nerve damage. My leg tissue below the “tight band” feels contracted like a charley horse and heavy. Yet palpitating the tissue, it is soft, not hard. So, what else would give a person the FEELING that there is a tourniquet around the area below the knee and a charley horse in the calf muscle: nerve damage.

Another friend talked to me about a successful procedure she has had at a pain clinic: nerve ablation. I haven’t gone for a consultation, but wondered if any of y’all have heard of or tried this treatment? And no, the chiropractor and massage therapy have not fixed this problem. They have given me a little temporary relief and i have learned a lot about physiology, and it has been empowering to be heard.

I have not given up the idea that one of us will find a solution to this issue one day. It seems like it will be up to us to find the answer. Let’s keep each other updated. Thanks!

Hi, and yes, I have heard of nerve ablation, it's also called Rhizotomy. We do those at my office. Always for the neck or back, and I have never seen my doctor do them on the knee area. It's a thought though.. I will ask him about it. I am sorry to hear you are having pain from it and a feeling of a charley horse. That's just awful. I don't have pain at all just the tightness. I will let you know what my doctor says and if he thinks it might be helpful.

Hi! I had nerve ablation in a procedure called "Coolief" 2 weeks ago for continuous pain following my partial knee replacement almost 2 years ago. i saw a pain management specialist who does the procedure. It took a bit to get insurance approval, but I have found it helpful. I didn't have the "tight band" feeling that you are experiencing, but did have enough pain that just walking into work was hard. (In fact, I was on a prescription anti-inflammatory medication for so long that I developed severe GI issues so now I can only take Tylenol or narcotic pain medication.

I'm not going to lie - the procedure was excruciating. My doctor thinks it is because the nerves are so close to the bone. The first few days were really rough. Luckily I had the procedure on a Friday so had the weekend to recover before needing to go to work. I spent the weekend in my recliner with my leg elevated and icing 15 minutes every hour. But now, 2 weeks later, while the pain is not completely gone - I am able to walk and stand without pain. The only time I feel anything is if I move "wrong". I'm walking almost 2 miles now without pain - but find that if I walk 2 days in a row it is a bit "much". Yesterday I was able to do the elliptical at the gym for a half hour - something I haven't been able to do in over 2 years!!

Good luck! I hope you find some relief.

I have had the nerve ablation treatment, it worked for me, no more severe pain, pins and needles, heavy tightness. You are right about it being nerve damage, that’s exactly what my treating physician diagnosed the problem as. Diagnosed with CRPS, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. Good luck getting treatment.

@medinafive , @lizzyisme , and @kibe75 thank you for your responses. I am intrigued about this ablation process and hope that Medicare will cover this.

It's been 7 years since I had both knees replaced and they still have that tight band feeling. I have tried everything been to multiple doctors and no help. I feel like it might have moved a little lower in both knees but I still have that same 24/7 feeling. No pain just that tightness and it isn't range of motion. I had 4 MUA's between both knees and I sometime think it is that which caused it. I've been doing cupping (with therapist at first) and to me the fascia attaching to muscle seems to make the most sense. I'm tired of people saying they don't know what is causing that. My twin sister had knee replaced and a month later she had no problems at all. I had 3 months PR with each knee then a personal trainer for about 3 months and did water aerobics for 1 1/2 years and nothing changed. If someone else gets any answers, I'm interested in hearing them.

I'm seven years and still have that feeling both knees were done in 2012 3 months apart.

Yes, I had it with my right knee TKR. It lasted for about 3 weeks, I think. My recent left knee didnt get it nearly as bad. It was awful!

Hi @slmichie1969 i am so sad that you have experienced this weird tight band feeling for 7 years in both knees. I have had it for over 2 and tried nearly everything you have to no avail. On my one year check up, my OD told me I would just have to live with this, and that he did not know what caused it. I have good ROM and my knee serves me well. You can read my prior posts.

I came to this site looking for answers, but found a very few other sufferers who have had this side effect (longer than a few months post surgery) with no answers and no relief too. You have dealt with this longer than any of the past posters on this queston.

Trying to get my head to accept and to adjust to this seemingly permanent side effect appears to be my biggest challenge. I dont take anything stronger than a tylenol, so trying to rise above chronic pain is a challenge. Staying busy helps me. I check this site from time to time for a miracle cure. If i stumble across something that helps me, will share it with you all.