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

@janicemmccarthy I have had two TKRs but never had the tight feeling that so many people mention! I wish I could be of some help but this is an area where my only knowledge is that I have seen on here on Connect.
I doubt that collagen pills would hurt but I would definitely run it by your orthopedist or any other doctor whose care you are under. I have to run everything by my transplant team because I am post-liver transplant. Is collagen similar to glucosamine and chondroitin supplements? I did try one of those at one point prior to having TKRs but found them to be of no help. Some people do get relief from them though.
Again, give your doctor a call and ask if he would suggest any of those OTC supplements. I can't remember who the orthopedic doctor was whom I was seeing back then but I do recall he said that some people do get help from those supplements. Whether it's a placebo effect or not is questionable.
JK

I walk about 30 minutes a day and stationary bike for 20 minutes. I also do stretching and use a pillow between my knees at night. My range is 120. The nights are the hardest.

I'm 4 months out. And yes it will go away. I had it off and on for the first 3 to 12 weeks. All i can say is it do get better. I massage with a good cocoa butter lotion when ever it gets tight i walk and ice. I believe it to be part of the heeling process . Massage helps remove scare tissue. If possible let someone help with it .That way you can get the thigh, calf and ankle to. Good luck with it.

Thanks, will ask my surgeon when I see him the end of the month. I am willing to try anything for a decent night sleep.

I don't no if this helps but , i tried everything. Nothing worked until i got on a stationary bike.it hurts at first but i got a better stretch and build the muscle up. 5 minutes every day until i was able to ride longer. Followed by massage with Cocoa butter lotion . I massage as much as possible. I still ice and after 3 months i also use heat on my lower leg and upper thigh. Not on my knee. Once i was able to massage the scare and loosen scare tissue. Everything got better. Lots of work but I'm better the tightness around my knee is gone. It felt like i had a string tied around the joint. And i had to bend as much as i could . It actually felt like a net or something pulling apart breaking off. Well I'm at 5 months now. Still a little stiff and some swelling off and on but I'm dealing with it. Good luck

@janicemmccarthy My orthopedic surgeon LOVES the recumbent bike. He wanted me to do a half-hour, five days a week after my TKR, and take two consecutive days off for recovery. He also loves water jogging.
Walking on pavement can be hard on your knees since there is an impact. I find I hurt more when we walk in the street rather than at the track at the HS.
I am so used to the pillow between my legs now, recommended both by my orthopedic surgeon and a trauma orthopedist who I saw after a femur fracture, that I need to have it now. It really does help.

@ladybee I never heard of using cocoa butter, does it help for pain, or just to keep your skin to be more pliable? I also never did massage, but my flex hovers at around 120° so maybe if I had it would be a bit better.
JK

2 1/2 years out now and I have serve tightness in my knee after knee replacement. Got a second opinion and he will go in and check for scar tissues. I've had pain and problems from day one.

@lukyme I hope the physician will find something that can be helped. To me, it just does not seem right to have a problem such as that for so long, but maybe I was just fortunate in not having these problems.
JK

Good morning @janicemmccarty, @colleenyoung, I have read your messages and replies to your requests for help with the IT band syndrome. I did not take collagen pills after my TKR although I did read about others who found them helpful. My rehab took 1 year as proscribed and monitored by my orthopedic surgeon and physical therapist. I did the rest including that darn stationary bike for what seemed like a long time.

Some time ago I posted a discussion about knee replacements.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/what-can-you-do-to-extend-the-life-of-your-tkr-and-mobility/
My guiding words would be what my surgeon asked me......."do you want this TKR to last a lifetime of only 5 years?" If you want it to last then you need to take your time with rehab. Since fascia actually wraps itself around the IT band........when it gets stuck, the fascia gets restrictive and layered and then causes pain. The best provider to release the layers is someone trained in MFR and holds an expert level Myofascial Release Therapy certification. It is not massage but is a hands-on release of the pain. Some know that in order to release restrictions you have to physically move them and that can be a few seconds of "ouch" and then relief.

Here are some links to information about fascia.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/
https://myofascialrelease.com/
You can even visit Sedona for intensive MFR treatment or schedule sessions with an expert level MFR therapist. In fact, I am on my way there in just a few moments. I still go every week, to make sure I can walk my 2 miles almost every day.

I wish you the best. Don't hesitate to jump on Connect and let us know what is going on for you. I am happy to try my best at research.....my own story I now know by heart.

You may also find this video helpful to see and understand what is happening under the skin.

I'm four years out and I still have it. I've done everything from probes that freeze the nerves to crotazone shots. Nothing works. The more I walk the worse it gets. Climbed a 6' ladder 5 times just rungs up, 2 down. By an hour I was on so much pain
I think the side ligaments are injured and my joint fill with fluid. I go in about two weeks. I said this the first time its wasnt nerves. But I'm just the nut that had the surgery's.