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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@sweede536 I am so sorry that you are in so much pain. What kind of surgery did you have? It must be so discouraging to still hurt so bad. You will be in my thoughts. I'm going into surgery on June 9th, which you probably all ready know from my long posts. I hope things will get better for you.

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@sweede536

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.

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@sweede536 That really is terrible that you have been living with pain from surgery for that long. I presume being in pain for so long that you have sought out opinions from different orthopedic surgeons.
Hopefully the appointment in two weeks will provide some further diagnosis of what is causing so much pain for so long. To me, that is unthinkable, but as I have said, maybe I was just one of the fortunate ones.
JK

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I've had mine about 12 years so I don't expect it to change.

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@mhort1213

It has been 15 months since my surgery and the tight band has improved somewhat but still exists but to a lesser level. It doesn't bother me or hinder me like it did before except when climbing stairs, etc. Since that surgery, I had the right knee done in September 2019 with robotic assisted surgery and a different surgeon. That knee now 7 months out is still a little tight, but I don't notice it for the most part. The difference is noticeable and I would recommend robotic assisted surgery over traditional Total knee replacement as it is more precise.

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I was so glad to read that someone besides me had experienced the tight band feeling. I described it that same way to several people who had had knee replacements and even my doctors, yet no one knew what I was talking about. Mine did get better, but not totally. It’s been 1 1/2 years now since my TKR. Thanks for sharing your experiences.

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@nickaci

I was so glad to read that someone besides me had experienced the tight band feeling. I described it that same way to several people who had had knee replacements and even my doctors, yet no one knew what I was talking about. Mine did get better, but not totally. It’s been 1 1/2 years now since my TKR. Thanks for sharing your experiences.

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Sadly my knee replacement “mechanically failed” and I ended up having to have revision surgery and a new knee implant. I’m on the road to recovery all over again. Glad to hear you are doing well.

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@nickaci

I was so glad to read that someone besides me had experienced the tight band feeling. I described it that same way to several people who had had knee replacements and even my doctors, yet no one knew what I was talking about. Mine did get better, but not totally. It’s been 1 1/2 years now since my TKR. Thanks for sharing your experiences.

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It's been 1 1/2 years since my left knee surgery and the tight band is better, but when I compare it to my right knee replacement done 10 months ago, it is much tighter and still has some fluid around the knee. Thankfully though, it's not painful, but is somewhat restrictive with certain movements. The right was done robotic assisted and more precise measurements were taken which I think helped.

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@npt1903

I've had mine about 12 years so I don't expect it to change.

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Dear npt1903 , think about getting fitted for orthotics .They may help

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It’s been a year June 12, 2020 that I had a total knee replacement, I’ve had the tight band syndrome that you are describing. I’ve had a manipulation and 2 weeks ago arthroscopic surgery to remove scar tissue...nothing has helped me 🙁...hope you have better luck than I did...

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Thanks for the update. Just two days ago I saw a dermatologist for the scar tissue (keloid) and she has given me a steroid injection in the scar. She said it will help with the movement and the scar should flatten. I may have to take more shots she said. Let me know if you feel any differently after the arthroscopic surgery a little later since it is just two weeks now. I get a pain at the back of both the knees too.

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@jnoronha

Thanks for the update. Just two days ago I saw a dermatologist for the scar tissue (keloid) and she has given me a steroid injection in the scar. She said it will help with the movement and the scar should flatten. I may have to take more shots she said. Let me know if you feel any differently after the arthroscopic surgery a little later since it is just two weeks now. I get a pain at the back of both the knees too.

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Thank you for letting me know about the scar tissue. I’ll let you know regarding the arthroscopic surgery. It hurts behind my knee too and also my ankle is involved too! What a mess! At this point I’m sorry I had the surgery! I was super active prior to it and now I feel disabled...

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