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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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aprilmay | @aprilmay | Feb 3, 2021
In reply to @cobweb "I also have that problem and it has lasted 6 years" + (show)
@cobweb

I also have that problem and it has lasted 6 years

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My surgery was 2 1/2 years ago and feel like that both knees! ...have you ever seen a doctor about it? Wondering if there's anything that can be done...so frustrating!

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aprilmay | @aprilmay | Feb 3, 2021
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 have the tight, rubber band type feeling across both knees...2 1/2 years out! It isn't painful like before the surgery but very uncomfortable and present all he time when on my feet. I haven't seen ortho regarding the cause and if any treatment would help or if I have to live with this!! Ugh!!

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irish283 | @irish283 | Feb 3, 2021

@ssbionicknee
Hello, I AM @irish283. I had TKR Aug. 2019.
I still have that tightness and feeling as if it is a band. It is very annoying...my surgery didn’t go well...post surgerySep. 2020 I found out that I am allergic to bone cement. I’m not sure if the “band tightness” is caused by the allergy. I have noticed that over this past 17 mos. that my knee is swollen, hot to touch at times by the rights
outside Part of joint is also tender. It’s something to think about, since MRI DOESNT SHOW ANYTHING. I saw 5 doctors aNd they all had different reason for my pain, the 6th dr. Sent me for allergy testing. Something to consider. Don’t do blood testing do the patch testing on your back. Check for allergy to metals,glues, and antibiotics. Good luck.

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aprilmay | @aprilmay | Feb 3, 2021
In reply to @medinafive "I fist posted in this therad back in March. First knee was done in Oct. 2018,..." + (show)
@medinafive

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.

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I'm just wondering how you are doing now and if you did anything that helped...I had mine done in August 2018 and December 2018 and continue to have the rubber band feeling. Very frustrating to say he least!

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1 reply
janicemmccarthy | @janicemmccarthy | Feb 4, 2021
In reply to @bluebrass "I too have a tight feeling around my knee, ankle, and foot. TKR, left knee June..." + (show)
@bluebrass

I too have a tight feeling around my knee, ankle, and foot. TKR, left knee June ‘19, so it also has been awhile. After the joint got infected in August of the same year I had to wear an immobilizer and the sensation I constantly have is that I am still wearing it. My range of motion in the knee is around 120 degrees, though. It is my foot that now causes most of my present issues. See my reply to butter12.

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I had right knee done in April 2019 and left knee done in Januaru 2020. Both knees have equal tight bank feeling. Nights are the hardest to sleep. I ride the stationary bike and have gone thru pt a couple of times. ROM is 118. Doctor said everything looks fine and it takes years to feel better. Hope he is right.

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1 reply
ellenka | @ellenka | Feb 4, 2021
In reply to @janicemmccarthy "I had right knee done in April 2019 and left knee done in Januaru 2020. Both..." + (show)
@janicemmccarthy

I had right knee done in April 2019 and left knee done in Januaru 2020. Both knees have equal tight bank feeling. Nights are the hardest to sleep. I ride the stationary bike and have gone thru pt a couple of times. ROM is 118. Doctor said everything looks fine and it takes years to feel better. Hope he is right.

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I had both knees replaced Dec. 2019. At my one year appointment I again told Doctor of that tightness in Left knee when I bend it even a little bit. It does not bend as well as right knee, turning with sleep in painful. Always feels tight, takes effort to get in and out of cars. Early on he said it would resolve, now he says it’s scar tissue and to fix it I would need manipulation, done under anesthesia to break up scar tissue. Said it’s 80 percent effective. I’ll do it after I am vaccinated.

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ellenka | @ellenka | Feb 4, 2021
In reply to @aprilmay "I'm just wondering how you are doing now and if you did anything that helped...I had..." + (show)
@aprilmay

I'm just wondering how you are doing now and if you did anything that helped...I had mine done in August 2018 and December 2018 and continue to have the rubber band feeling. Very frustrating to say he least!

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I saw surgeon for 1 year follow up. I had both knees done Dec 2019. Right is great, not normal but I’m happy. Left had the tightness with even minor bending. I can get a bend in it but it’s painful and it does not bend as well as right knee. Surgeon said it is scar tissue, not IT band. Would need manipulation under anesthesia to correct. 80 percent success rate. Will have bruising and swelling after and more PT. This tightness effects turning with sleep, getting in and out of cats and climbing steps, etc. I plan to do it after I’m fully vaccinated.

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1 reply
ellenka | @ellenka | Feb 4, 2021
In reply to @ellenka "I saw surgeon for 1 year follow up. I had both knees done Dec 2019. Right..." + (show)
@ellenka

I saw surgeon for 1 year follow up. I had both knees done Dec 2019. Right is great, not normal but I’m happy. Left had the tightness with even minor bending. I can get a bend in it but it’s painful and it does not bend as well as right knee. Surgeon said it is scar tissue, not IT band. Would need manipulation under anesthesia to correct. 80 percent success rate. Will have bruising and swelling after and more PT. This tightness effects turning with sleep, getting in and out of cats and climbing steps, etc. I plan to do it after I’m fully vaccinated.

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Above should say cars, not cats.

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aprilmay | @aprilmay | Feb 4, 2021

<p>Rubber band feeling after knee replacement</p><p>Has anyone experienced the tightness, rubber band feeling 2 years after knee replacement?</p>

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4 replies
clbs | @clbs | Feb 4, 2021
In reply to @aprilmay "Rubber band feeling after knee replacementHas anyone experienced the tightness, rubber band feeling 2 years after..." + (show)
@aprilmay

<p>Rubber band feeling after knee replacement</p><p>Has anyone experienced the tightness, rubber band feeling 2 years after knee replacement?</p>

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Unfortunately, yes! I’ve had that feeling since shortly after surgery 2 years ago. It’s not painful but it’s very annoying and I think about it whenever I walk. I don’t have much hope that it will ever go away! 😟

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