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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@sprinrosa64

Raymo this sounds like what I went through in the beginning. A knife sharp tight band feeling across front of my knee, totally unable to walk and a doctor who kept saying nothing was wrong. Out of desperation I had some of my saphenous nerve cut which did take away the sharp pain across my knee but to this day , over 2yrs , I still am in severe pain below knee. Can’t put any weight without terrible pain. This Wednesday I am trying a nerve stimulator in leg to see if it can stop pain signal.

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Sorry you are going through this good luck on Wednesday I am seeing my OS on the 23rd and if not better asking for a CT scan

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Best of luck to you and as we all come to see you must stand up for yourself with some of these doctors

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@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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Hi, this sounds so like mine, the tightness also goes around my toes and very uncomfortable to walk. After exercise it seems to tighten even more in my calf. I had my op Aug 2020. How are you going now? Have you found anything that helps you with discomfort. Mentally taxing too, the longer it goes on. I try and divert my mind by keeping busy and walking dog. Sleeping isn’t easy either! It’s in a way comforting to know it’s not just me! I’d like proper explanation

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@raymo

I am 3 weeks postop RTK and 1 month post MUA. Week ago started having tight band around front of knee in itself just irritating but it’s starting to move up and down when it catches in the middle of knee I can’t even put weight on my leg can’t get back to PT due to inability to walk when it moves OS shrugged and hasn’t got a clue what it is if he doesn’t then who ? I am so disappointed and feel useless

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@raymo Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect, a place to give and get support.

You said you were seeing your OS on the 23rd and if not better asking for a CT scan. Have you had any improvement in symptoms?

I'm wondering if you have considered calling your surgeon and physical therapist to tell them that you are unable to weight on it and therefore can't do PT?

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@erikas

@raymo Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect, a place to give and get support.

You said you were seeing your OS on the 23rd and if not better asking for a CT scan. Have you had any improvement in symptoms?

I'm wondering if you have considered calling your surgeon and physical therapist to tell them that you are unable to weight on it and therefore can't do PT?

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Yes I have notified PT my OS is on vacation Knee is flunktuating from locking up to tight band am back to using came

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i had replacement surgery 5 1\2 years ago and the tight feeling is still there. I can only walk a few blocks before the tightness is to much. Im having surger in three weeks for a replacement and my surgeon thinks this will cure my knee problem. He said much of the tightness is in many ways do to hips, well I guess we will see! I know one thing im sick and tired of all the miserly I've gone through all these years. Iv been waring a $20 strap on brace from Walgreen's I have been use. do to this knee its caused me to trip 10 times as I dont lift it high enough.

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What are they going to do on the revision surgery to mediate the tightness in the knees? I have the same issue with my knees that were replaced in 2017.
I have been trying knee squats to help with strength in knee area but I have had extreme pain around the knee in the process. I'm desperately trying to find a solution

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@sweede536

i had replacement surgery 5 1\2 years ago and the tight feeling is still there. I can only walk a few blocks before the tightness is to much. Im having surger in three weeks for a replacement and my surgeon thinks this will cure my knee problem. He said much of the tightness is in many ways do to hips, well I guess we will see! I know one thing im sick and tired of all the miserly I've gone through all these years. Iv been waring a $20 strap on brace from Walgreen's I have been use. do to this knee its caused me to trip 10 times as I dont lift it high enough.

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Have you heard of Active Release Technique (A.R.T.). I have IT Band syndrome and had one art yesterday. It has helped me. The Dr. Seems to think 3 or 4 treatments will fix my problem. She focused on my hips and IT Band. Check into it.

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@donmckibben

What are they going to do on the revision surgery to mediate the tightness in the knees? I have the same issue with my knees that were replaced in 2017.
I have been trying knee squats to help with strength in knee area but I have had extreme pain around the knee in the process. I'm desperately trying to find a solution

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Check into Active Release Technique (A.R.T.). I had one treatment and it has helped me. The Dr. said I would need 4 treatments. I would check into it.

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@autp17

Have you heard of Active Release Technique (A.R.T.). I have IT Band syndrome and had one art yesterday. It has helped me. The Dr. Seems to think 3 or 4 treatments will fix my problem. She focused on my hips and IT Band. Check into it.

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Thanks

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